Bhopal, April 9 -- On the day domestic LPG prices were raised by Rs 50, the increase felt anything but small for a large number of city housewives, who have been battling rising living costs. Every extra expense only adds to the daily stress of keeping their kitchen stoves burning.
In homes where a single income supports an entire family, there's no room for error. "My husband works nonstop, and we still don't save a paisa," says Ragini Upadhyay from Semra. Her husband, Anupam Mishra, supports not just her but also his sister and grandparents. "Rs 5,000 goes into medicines every month. He's also saving for his sister's wedding. We haven't even planned a child yet - we just can't afford it."
The Petroleum Ministry claims that oil companies...