When the spiralling prices of foodgrains and all other essential commodities are making the life of an average Indian miserable the government has proposed a fresh hike in the prices of petroleum products which is likely to hit them even harder.While it's true that international oil prices are shooting up and our oil market companies finances are in a mess.But why can't the government propose some imaginative steps to mitigate the hardships of the common men? Why petrol.diesel and kerosne should be treated on an equal footing? Diesel and kerosene are used by the poor people and these should be subsidized.While the government continues its policy of setting up more automobile units to produce cars of varying sizes,it's clueless about meeting the fuels requirements of the future.It has no policy of discouraging sale and use of big and luxury cars which are fuel guzzlers.Ultimately the burden is passed on to the poor common men who are already groaning under a crushing burden.