Inflation breaks records in Canada, Punjabi students taking shelter in Gurdwaras

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Ontario: Inflation in Canada is currently at its highest level in a decade. This has added in the woes of students going from Punjab. This is the first time since 1980 that inflation has crossed the 7 per cent mark.

Food articles have become costlier by 10.8 per cent in August 2022 as compared to August 2021. The room rent has also doubled there. Last year, where the rent of two bedrooms was between $ 1100-1200, now it has reached $ 2500.

The single room used to be available for $ 800-900 last year, is currently available for $ 1500-1600. The situation is such that hundreds of students of Punjab have to survive by staying in gurdwaras and eating langar.

Increasing number of students in gurdwaras

Harvinder Ruby, an office-bearer of the committee managing two gurdwaras in Brampton, said rent and inflation have made things difficult for students. Around 3,500 people come to our two gurdwaras a day to eat langar, of which more than half are students.

“We also giving rooms to students for a few days. If anyone needs financial help, we do that too. It is not that there is a shortage of work in Canada, but more than one million people need workers in different sectors. Many students are working in two shifts to cover their expenses,” he said.

Increase in student spending

The cost of students’ room rent has increased by $ 400-500 per month. In addition, there has been an increase of $ 150 on transport, $ 200 on vehicles/ mobiles and $ 150-300 on food items.

According to the information, the monthly expenditure of each student has increased from 800 to 900 rupees, which is 50 to 55 thousand rupees a month in Indian rupees.

 

Inflation rate in Canada in 5 years

Year by year

2017 2.1 percent

2018 2.5 percent

2019 1.4 percent

2020 2.4 percent

2021 1.0 percent

2022 5.1 percent

June 2022 8.1 percent

July 2022 7.6 percent

August 2022 7.3 percent