THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The increase in the hotel food tariff and the prices of groceries and vegetables has worried the Non- Resident Keralites in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries this Onam.
A good Onasadya with around 25 dishes at a popular Malayalee joint at Karama, Al Nahda or Al Qusais in Dubai will cost around 50 dirhams (Rs 950). The price is almost similar in Doha, Qatar, where an Onasadya costs around Rs 850.
The prices of vegetables have gone up in the UAE as the country depends on places like Jordan and Tunisia for vegetables as imports from Oman have dropped to negligible levels.
As per Vinod Ulahannan, who resides with his wife in an upmarket location in Dubai, they prepare Onasadya at home and yet it costs not less that Rs 1,600 to prepare a meal for two.
“We call in two three friends at home and prepare a modest feast that will also cost around the same as in hotels,” Ulahannan said. If one goes to a reasonable supermarket, a kilogram of tomato can cost Rs 75 and so does the potatoes. A small dry coconut can cost around Rs 45.
“Three years ago in Karama, an Onasadya was available at restaurants for 35 dirham and the prices have doubled in the last seven years. With petroleum prices going down, many jobs are at risk and salary increments are an issue,” said Sujith Bhaskar who works in hospitality.
Sreejith Nair who resides in a labour camp on the suburbs of Abu Dhabi said that the price of vegetarian food had been tactically increased before Onam itself.
“Half beef fry will cost you just over Rs 100. However, a small serving of sambharam (buttermilk) costs Rs 54. Many of us have taken loans for houses etc so Rs 1000 is a big sum for us also,” Mr Nair said.
A Khaleej Times report says that the overall inflation in the UAE rose to 4.43 per cent year-on-year in July and the chief contributing factor is the rise in the cost of food and beverages that rose by 1.37 per cent.
