KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 26
The government has decided to launch the fair-price shops in view of the upcoming festivals from October 8 to November 19.
According to Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry,Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Gajendra Kumar Thakur, the decision to operate such shops aimed to serve the interests of consumers during the festive season. The outlets are expected to control price gouging, maintain market quality and ensure the smooth supplies of food at reasonable rates during festivals.
The government each year launches the fair price shops citing to prevent the monopoly of private sector in the market during festivals.
Food Management and Trade Co Ltd (FMTCL) and Salt Trading Corporation (STC) under the MoICS and Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) will collaborate to operate the shops.
Different varieties of rice, pulses, wheat flour, edible oil and beaten rice will be available in such outlets at relatively lower prices than in the regular market.
Similarly, discount of Rs 10 has been offered in per kg beans and other grains produced in Karnali and live goats, and mountain goats. The government has allocated Rs 23.22 million for FMTCL to run fair price shops this year.
Likewise, the government has allocated Rs 10 million to provide discount on food stuffs to be sold through STC. The Salt Trading Corporation will sell sugar at Rs 97 per kg while it will provide two rupees discount on per kg salt and seven rupees in per kg beaten rice.
The DDC will provide Rs 20 discount on per kg ghee and Rs 20 on per 200 gram paneer and Rs 50 on per 500 gram paneer.
There would be stalls in 35 places including eight selling centres and three mobile shops of FMTCL and STC located in Kathmandu valley.
Besides this, the FMTCL will run fair-price shops in Morang, Jhapa, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Diktel, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Siraha, Janakpur, Parsa, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kaski, Tanahun, Gorkha, Manang, Mustang, Rupandehi, Banke, Dang, Bardiya, Rukum East and Rukum West.
Similarly, FMTCL will have concessional stocks at 48 places of 42 districts, including Rolpa, Surkhet, Gulmi, Dailekh, Dolpa, Kalikot, Humla, Jajarkot, Jumla, Mugu, Kailali, Dadeldhura, Bajura, Bajhang, Achham, Darchula and Mahendranagar.
Such fair-price shops can also be operated in additional districts and places as per the need, the ministry stated. The fixed discount can be accessed through free online home delivery, mobile service, cooperatives and dealers.
A monitoring committee has also been formed to check whether the operated fair-price shops are effective or not.
According to the ministry, market monitoring would be further intensified throughout the festival period. In the case of Kathmandu valley, the ministry shall form the team and carry out monitoring throughout the period the fairprice shops are operated. The corporations concerned shall also do the same.
The Department of Commerce, Supplies Management and Consumer Protection will also form additional team other than the regular monitoring and intensify the monitoring.
In case of the districts, the monitoring teams shall be constituted under the convenorship of the chief district officer or the assistant chief district officer for carrying out thorough monitoring, according to the ministry.
Such outlets expected to control price gouging, maintain market quality and ensure smooth supply of food at reasonable rates
A version of this article appears in the print on September 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
