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Tamil Nadu
Can his pension help him meet family expenses?
| His pension is now the only source of income for the entire family |
Worried: R.Kanthari Muthu, a retired government employee. —
Retired State Government employee R. Kanthari Muthu is worried about inflation in the sense that he thinks his pension may not help him meet the family expenses in the days to come.
“The Rs. 6,200 pension is just about enough to meet the family expenses for the present.
“But if prices rise further, I have very little means of managing it because pension is my only source of income,” says the head of the family of three.
Hardly nine months into retirement, Mr. Muthu has started feeling the effect of price rise and all the difficulties that the present circumstances have brought in their wake.
Some of these are new, ones that he could have managed when employed.
“Then I could manage household expenses within my pension, which, now, has become difficult,” he says, about his present situation.
Three months ago the Muthu family spent Rs. 450 for a 25 kg rice bag.
That figure has now touched Rs. 625.
IntakeThe increase in price of rice has made Mr. Muthu reduce intake.
“Though the move can be partly attributed to health reasons, the price rise cannot be ruled out either.”
Mr. Muthu says the family also sees increase in cost of seasonal vegetables, as almost all seasonal vegetables are dearer by at least Rs. 2 a kg.
That means the family opts for vegetables that fit the monthly vegetable bill.
Similar expenditure control measures have been taken like in purchase of meat and use of vehicle.
“I avoid using vehicle whenever possible,” says the head of three-member family.
The price rise has set Mr. Muthu thinking about the future, because “very shortly, in addition to food, I’ll have to spend for medicines as well.”
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