Encouraging Assurance

MINISTER for Commerce, Industry and Supplies Ram Krishna Tamrakar observed the other day that if the international market shows a downward trend in the prices of POL products, the government will also bring their prices down. Speaking at an interaction programme, Minister Tamrakar further elucidated that the government was compelled to take such a tough decision due to the increase in the prices of POL products in the international market. The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the sole authority to import and distribute POL products in the country, increased the prices of POL products last week by citing, among others, the rising trend in the prices of POL products in the global market. Certainly, in the present era of rapid globalisation, an increase in the prices of any product in the international market will also affect the internal prices of the same product in any country. And Nepal cannot remain unaffected because Nepal also has to purchase the POL products from the same international market. At present, the government is undoubtedly in an unenviable situation for two main reasons. First, it is definitely not in position to decrease the prices of POL products. For, to continue supplying them at the previous prices would entail a gigantic loss to the national exchequer--which, in turn, will surely affect the nation’s development plan and budget. Secondly, since the country is devoid of any oil fields, the government, especially the NOC, has to rely solely on imports of POL products from abroad. This means having to meet the increasing demand for fuel at home amidst a fluctuating price situation of POL products in the international market.

Due to these two unpalatable reasons, it is but natural for the government as well as the political parties to be serious from their respective sides about the adverse effects of price hikes of POL products on the people and national development endeavours. Herein, what is indeed heartening to note is that the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the ruling Nepali Congress party decided the other day to instruct the government to increase the amount of kerosene to be distributed to the people under the coupon system. The increase will surely be welcomed by the people, especially by those who need kerosene the most. Yet, considering the fluctuating price situation of POL products in the international market, it looks to reason on the part of the government and related agencies to speedily harness alternative energy sources--such as the nation’s vast water and solar resources--to meet the rising demand for fuel in the country.

Human Trafficking

MINISTER of State for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Pant, while inaugurating a regional seminar the other day for senior police officers to enhance cross-border collaboration to stop human trafficking, called on all, including the human rights organisations, to join hands to combat the heinous crime of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation. The sexual exploitation of women and children by unscrupulous elements of society is definitely on the rise throughout the world. The more so in developing countries like Nepal. One ready reason for this is the abject poverty of the people. Yet another reason could be the gullibility of the people, especially the women and children who, in order to escape from the clutches of grinding poverty, become easy prey to various enticements--like a better lifestyle in the cities through work--dangled before them by the human traffickers. This is vouchsafed by the fact that most of the sexually exploited women and children hail from the rural areas. And when organised criminal gangs take to human trafficking, the situation tends to take on a more sinister dimension. Once the women and children fall into the hands of organised human trafficking gangs, their victims are not only smuggled to other countries to work as virtual sex slaves but they would also be finding it very difficult to escape from their inhuman masters, situation and conditions.

It is herein that the law enforcement agencies' role come into sharp focus and attention. With regards to Nepal, the fact that each year over 5,000 Nepalese girls and women end up in the red light areas in India indicates that the law enforcement agencies and their personnel need to put their anti-human trafficking efforts on a higher gear. Conceded, the law enforcement agencies, particularly the police unit specifically charged with nabbing human traffickers and deterring such anti-social activities, are over-stretched as far as personnel, resources and expertise are concerned. However, the consequences of allowing the human trafficking gangs to continue with their inhuman activities could, in the long run, be too dear a price to pay by the country and people in terms of prestige, image and health. For, it is common knowledge that HIV-infected Nepalese sex workers, on being turned out by the brothel owners to fend for themselves, are reported to be coming back to their homes and plying their trade.