By Sangeeta B K, DH News Service, Bangalore: The nationwide increase in prices of food commodities has now scourged the staple diet of the State rice, and the appetite of the common man has taken a beating, with little choices to make. What seemed to be a gradual increase in the cost of rice, has now soared high enough for people to complain. There has been an increase of Rs 6-8 on a kilo of rice, due to inflation. Sona masoori, a particular variety of rice, widely consumed by people, has now increased from Rs 18-19 to Rs 26-28. It's not rice alone that has pinched the common man's pocket, but other grocery items too. Enquiries at grocery shops have revealed that a kg of toor dal costs about Rs 45, spiralling by about three rupees. The worst hit is coriander (dhaniya), which costs 100, costing twenty to twenty five rupees more. Families below the poverty line (BPL) and the middle class have little options left than to accept the hike. Kavita Rangaswamy, a housewife, said, "The increase in the rice cost is shocking for middle-class families. Prices of other commodities did not affect our monthly budget as much, but the rice cost definitely has. We have been cutting down on other items on our provision list to match up to the rice cost.' People form BPL families are looking for other options to meet the high cost of rice. According to a shop owner, BPL families usually buy broken rice including the Sona masoori variety. A kg of this variety, that cost Rs 12 to 14, earlier has almost doubled. Sarita, a domestic help, said, "We cannot afford the raw rice as it has increased to Rs 27. We use broken rice which is now Rs 16 a kg. It extremely difficult for people like us to manage the price increase.' Decline in business Provision stores have seen a decline in business as customers complain and are shocked at the price hike. Hahib Rehman, Proprietor Habeeb Provision Store, rues that the price rise specially of rice has affected the business. "We as store owners are shelling out almost Rs 100-150 for a 25 kilo sack of rice. The customers are shocked at the price of the raw rice and steamed rice. The cost of broken rice, which is bought by economically poor families has also increased. Our regular customers are compromising on other commodities to balance the rice cost, in the monthly budget,' said Rehman. Eshwar J, Manager and Cashier, M L Rice Traders, said, "The soaring rice cost is dangerous as our customers are at the receiving end. A few months ago, we were selling more than 120 rice sacks on an average per month. But, now selling even 60 rice sacks per month has become difficult. The rice yards predict that the situation of high rice cost will remain so till November.' Sighting reasons for rice shortage, Eshwar said, "Rice traders from other states like Maharashtra, come here to rice yards in the state to purchase and this invariably has led to the shortage of rice. Rice yards are not able to meet the demands with the price increase.'