Himalayan News Service

Birgunj, April 28:

Private schools in Birgunj are selling textbooks and stationary worth Rs 20 million annually in an illegal manner. This enables them to make a profit of Rs 8 million approximately for which they do not even have to pay tax, said entrepreneurs who deal in textbooks. Reputed local schools like DAV, Gyan Jyoti, St Xavier’s, Gautam DPS and the GHP are selling textbooks, stationary and uniforms without permission. They do no pay any tax for the profit they make.

Seven thousand students are studying in these schools. The schools have been able to make a transaction of Rs 10 million since mid-April, the textbooks entrepreneurs said. Every student has to buy textbooks worth Rs 1,500 in the beginning of the academic session. The schools are cheating by issuing the bill which does not bear their name, signature and PAN number, stated the Guardians’ Association of Nepal, Parsa.

Because of indifference on the part of government, their business continues to thrive, said textbooks entrepreneurs. They receive 40 to 60 per cent commission for selling textbooks, the association informed. The students can receive up to 15 per cent discount if they buy textbooks from the market but the schools deny them such discount. The schools are crowded with guardians wishing to buy the textbooks while the bookshops have no business, said the association’s former district president, Rameshwor Rauniyar. Secretary of the Guardians’ Association, Dinesh Acharya, said: “The guardians keep mum fearing mistreatment of their wards in schools.” “We started supplying textbooks in school because bookshops are usually crowded,” said the principal of Gautam School, Sonam Lama. Most schools do not even give notice to the guardians, said Acharya. The private schools are also selling uniforms at a higher price. Tax officer at the inland revenue office, Yagya Murti Bhandari, said: “It is illegal for schools to deal in textbooks. We are unable to take action because no complaint has been registered against them.”