Need for consumer protection stressed

Nepalgunj, Nov. 26 (RSS): The Janahit Samrakshyan Manch (Pro-Public), a consumer protection forum, organised a two-day workshop seminar on "Possibilities of Consumer Empowerment and Challenges" here recently.

Journalists, teachers, law practitioners and representatives of various governmental and non-governmental organisations from Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet and Kathmandu took part in the seminar.

At the seminar four separate working papers on the protection of consumer rights and other issues were presented.

Intellectuals Rajesh Khanal, journalist Niraj Prasad Gautam, Prof Dr. Janardhan Acharya and businessman Shyam Kumar Sharma commented on the working papers.

The seminar has laid stress on strengthening the Consumer Rights Act and Regulations and the administrative machinery, imposing a ban on misleading advertisements and launching awareness programmes on protection of consumer rights.

At the concluding session of the seminar, central member of the UNESCO National Federation Parvej Ali Siddiqi underpinned the need for proper implementation of the suggestions of the seminar.

At the seminar Dr. Hiramani had presented a paper on "Economic Globalisation and Consumer Rights Protection", treasurer of the Pro-Public Ratnakar Adhikari a paper on "Social Challenges of Consumers", joint-registrar of the Supreme Court Ramkrishna Timilsina on "Right to Information and Consumer Protection" and manager of Himal Cement Industry Subash Pokharel a working paper on "Consumers' Rights Protection: A Commercial Perspective".

Labour strike mooted as Hotel Sherpa observes 13th anniversary

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 26: The Hotel Sherpa observed its 13th anniversary with various programmes on Saturday.

Delivering his welcoming speech at a function organised to mark the anniversary celebration, Gautam Das Shrestha, Managing Director of the hotel, said the hotel employees' unions have to withdraw their strikes as the government has already formed a committee to find a permanent solution to the issue of a 10 per cent service charge demanded by them.

Shrestha also asked the government to strengthen the country's national flag carrier, RNAC, so as to increase the number of foreign visitors in the country. He said the government has to devise necessary policies and plans to successfully organise "Destination Nepal Year" in 2002.

The government targets to bring in one million tourists during 2002.

He distributed prizes to the employees who have carried out their responsibilities well and the winners of various sports activities organised on the occasion of the hotel's anniversary. Letters of appreciation were also given away to 11 employees who have completed 10 years of their service at the hotel.

The hotel provided Rs. 20,000 to the Hotel Sherpa Sports Club for the development of sports.

On the occasion, Chairman of the Employees' Union of the hotel Chandra Man Bajracharya also expressed his views.

Food Corporation urged to reconsider paddy price

Dhangadhi, Nov. 26 (RSS): MPs of Kailali district Tek Bahadur Chokhal, Puskarnath Ojha and Ram Janam Choudari and Kailali DDC president Narayan Datta Misra have objected to the price of paddy set by Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) and demanded reconsideration of the price.

At a press conference held recently, they called for determining of the price of paddy taking the interests of farmers into consideration since the price determined on a makeshift basis thwarts the interest of the farmers.

Meanwhile chief of Nepal Food Corporation, Zonal Office Narayan Prasad Bhattarai made it clear that the price of paddy was fixed in line with a decision taken by the District Food Committee as well as the ground realilty in the district.

Nepal Food Corporation fixed the price of Rs. 675 per quintal for high grade paddy (Masino), Rs. 600 for medium grade and Rs. 575 for low grade though the farmers asked the government for Rs. 1,000 for high grade paddy and Rs. 900 for low grade.

Meanwhile in, Chitwan, a refresher training on sericulture began here recently.

A total of 20 sericulture technicians and its promoters from non-governmental organisations are taking part in the week long training organised by HMG Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives in collaboration with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

The training aims at seeking solutions to the problems of sericulture being surfaced in sector-wise and at transferring advanced technology used in this field.

During the training period, an observation tour has also been arranged for the participants to familiarise them with the commercial aspect of sericulture.

Users of cable car reaches 800,000 so far

Manakamana, Gorakha, Nov. 26 (RSS): The cable car service between Kurintar to Manakamana, Gorakha, the first ever cable car in Nepal has, so far, provided services to 800,000 people.

Under the cable car service that become a bridge between Chitawan and Gorakha districts, a total of 31 passenger and 3 cargo cable cars have been in operation for those who wish to pay homage to the deity Manakamana.

According to Manakamana Darshan Pvt. Ltd., the cable car service, has a capacity for accommodating 4,700 passengers a day.

The company has been providing services since Mangsir 9, 2055 B.S. The cable car was constructed at an investment of Rs. 430 million raised solely by indigenous businessmen with technical co-operation from Austria.

The company charges Rs. 280 per person including VAT and other taxes. Local people are resentful at being deprived of their income source through portering and other servcies after the cable car came into being.