Prices of essentials have risen by more than 50% in a month, says AIDWA at Prakasam protest

Prakasam district is facing drought-like conditions and lack of employment opportunities due to the impact of El Niño, said Kankanala Ramadevi, district secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), expressing concern over rising prices of essential commodities.

Speaking at a protest at the Ongole Collectorate on Monday (September 7, 2026), she said: “The policies adopted by the central and state governments have led to this situation and made life extremely difficult for the common people. We demand that the government take immediate measures to control the prices of essential commodities and supply 14 types of essential goods to the public at low prices through rationing warehouses.”

Ms. Ramadevi said, “AIDWA is holding a nationwide protest to ask the government to curb the rising prices of all essential commodities, which have gone up by more than 50% in the last month. People are worried about how to sustain their livelihoods with a lack of jobs and meager earnings, putting the poor and middle class in dire straits.”

She also criticized the granting of food crop rights to corporate entities and the actions of large traders and middlemen, who she said diverted essential commodities to the black market, driving up prices. She said that if the price rise was not stopped, nationwide protests would be launched under the leadership of AIDWA.

AIDWA District Assistant Secretary G. Adilakshmi and District Treasurer B. Rajalakshmi also spoke. The AIDWA delegation then submitted a memorandum to Collector P. Raja Babu, who assured them that the demands would be brought to the attention of the government.

Published – 8th September 2026 17:00 IST