Govt must keep prices at affordable levels, check inflation: Sonia Gandhi

Concerned over inflation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today asked the government to keep prices of essential commodities at affordable levels.

"Prices of essential commodities particularly must always be kept at affordable levels and inflation kept in check," she said in her inaugural address at the 83rd plenary session of the Congress party in Delhi.

While praising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for steering the economy on to the high growth path, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson said there were crucial challenges facing the country.

Describing inflation as one of the crucial challenges, Gandhi said the government was addressing the issues and the rate of price rise has moderated in recent times.

"As we sustain the momentum of high growth, we face some crucial challenges... our government is dealing with these challenges. The inflation rate has declined considerably in recent months," she added.

Inflation declined to 7.48% in November from 8.58% in October. It had hovered above the 10% mark during the six months till July, following which it came down to a single digit figure.

However, food inflation jumped to 9.46% for the week ended December 4 from 8.69% in the previous week. It was over 20% a year ago.

With regard to growth, Gandhi said, "Since May, 2004, under our prime minister's leadership, the economy has moved on to a much higher growth path. His stewardship through the global crisis is acknowledged universally.

"It is this high economic growth that has enabled us to fund our social welfare programmes and schemes," she added.

The Indian economy was expanding at over 9% before the global financial meltdown moderated the rate to 6.7% in 2008-09. Thereafter, the growth rate, spurred by the stimulus provided by the government and the Reserve Bank, moved up to 7.4% in 2009-10.

In the current financial year, the economy expanded by 8.9% in the first half (April-September). The average growth rate for the entire fiscal is expected to be at the pre-global crisis level of around 9%.

Gandhi also underlined the need for ensuring the benefits of growth reach all sections of society. "The benefits of growth must be shared equitably with the weaker sections of society," she added.

She further said subsidies meant for the poor much reach the targetted section of the population.

"Subsidies enjoyed by the relatively well-off must be redirected to those in need," she added.

There is also a need for protecting and regenerating the environment, forests and biodiversity, she said, adding that the quality of public education and healthcare needs to be improved, as they are the vital building blocks of an inclusive society.