Aam adami or the common man does not understand the complicated oil economics. All he/she knows is that a sudden change in auto and cooking fuel prices makes the house budget go haywire.

But, who is listening. Not the policy makers, at least.

An interesting conversation with a young parliamentarian led one to consider, why the decision makers think that the ‘aam adami’ is foolish. A common man knows how to manage his/her budget if there is transparency in the system.

The young parliamentarian was pitching for more subsidies to promote investments in the renewable sources of energy. But, in the same breath he says that subsidy on diesel, cannot be fully done away with, as it affects the aam adami. Ah! So here again we talk politics.

Don't we know that diesel and LPG subsidy was also enjoyed by the affluent.

To protect the common man the Government has not being allowing the public sector oil retailers review the oil prices as frequently as it is required. As a result – there was a dent in the finances of the oil retailers, financial performance of the public sector upstream companies also feel the pinch, subsidy bill of the Government is high, and there is no competition.

While he agreed that fuel pricing is not transparent, he like many from his fraternity was not open to idea that market be allowed to decide price, which will encourage competition by bringing more players. This in turn would mean the end user or the consumer will have the option to decide what price is affordable to him/her.

But, yes one agrees with him when he says energy mix needs to be changed, bring down dependence on conventional energy. Think alternate sources.

Steps are being taken by the Governent to correct the scene, be it fuel pricing or to promote alternate source.

As Condoleezza Rice had said: The quicker we get about the business of reducing our reliance on oil the better.

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