KATHMANDU: The State Affairs and Good-Governance Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR) has instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to put in place necessary and adequate security mechanism in view of the upcoming festivals.

Committee's President Shashi Shrestha, in the meeting today, issued a directive to devise security strategies so as to curb criminal activities such as theft, robbery, among others, occurring rampantly during the festive season.

President Shrestha said, "The government should pay attention to ensuring security at all places, including the bordering areas as a huge number of Nepali migrant workers from India come home for the festivals and the cases of criminal activities go up during such occasions."

Furthermore, the Committee has urged the concerned agencies to facilitate exchange of currency from Indian rupees to Nepali for Nepali migrant workers in India returning home for the festival.

The Committee issued the directive in consideration of the inconvenience experienced by migrant workers while exchanging Indian currencies worth Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in Nepal, added President Shrestha.

Drawing the attention of the government towards black marketeering and artificial shortage created during the festivals, the Committee has asked the concerned agencies to take action against those vehicle operators arbitrarily charging exorbitant fair from the passengers plying on both short and long routes during the festivals.

The Committee also directed the concerned agencies to maintain smooth coordination among stakeholders, line agencies and ministries for ensuring road safety during this period.