Long-Awaited Relief

THOUSANDS of families all across the country have been at the receiving end of the ongoing mindless violence in the name of Maoist insurgency. The trail of death and destruction has visited many places in the country. People in rural parts of Nepal have been particularly hit by the devastation of essential infrastructure -- i.e. what little they had. Though precise estimates of the loss of property are not available yet, it is easy to guess that particularly over these past months, when an increasing number of bomb blasts and arson have been occurring, the nation has lost billion of rupees worth of vital infrastructures. It is not only the public structures like transmitter towers and hydroelectricity plants that have come under attacks by Maoists. Even offices providing essential basic services to the people have been hit, depriving the poor of even that minimum services available in their midst. Destruction of drinking water projects and health centers, for example, have caused untold suffering to the rural populace.

Against such bleak situation has come the announcement of a relief programme from the government. The Thursday announcement of a 38-point “immediate relief package” is the first time since the Maoist violence began that a comprehensive relief package has been announced for those in the Maoist-affected districts across the country. The relief package announced by Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal is focused, as it should, on rehabilitation, reconstruction and income-generating programmes for the poor and for those people affected by the Maoist insurgency. Rebate on loans to the poor farmers, food for education scheme for 450,000 students, reconstruction of health centers, Rs. 180 million loan to the poor and the needy for income-generation, reconstruction of some 228 drinking water projects and priority to victims of Maoist insurgency are some of the highlights of the relief package. Along with the relief package, the government also seems to be serious about implementing the economic reforms and corruption control programme, as stressed by the Deputy Prime Minister. Indeed, while the implementation of this long-awaited relief should receive the utmost priority as it intends to bring urgent succor to the people in great distress, a strict implementation of the overall reforms announced by the finance minister some time ago is equally necessary if the process of economic recovery is to set off in earnest and more people to receive socio-economic benefits.

Take Immediate Action

CONSUMERS of petrol and kerosene have been facing a lot of inconvenience in the past few days after the commodities vanished from the market within no time. People carrying empty jerkins had to return home with sunken faces bewildered by the utter negligence on the part of the concerned authorities. No sooner had the word about the government’s ongoing homework to hike the price of kerosene and petrol was spread, retailers across the nation were inspired to create artificial shortage of the commodities. The profit that lies in store for them after the price hike must have driven them to hoard the commodities and pretend to have run out of them. The Nepal Oil Corporation had submitted in writing to the government that it had incurred huge losses for selling kerosene at the prevailing price. It was only after that the government was compelled to look into the issue. Price adjustments are part of the natural process to overcome the financial stress. But isn’t it very unbecoming of the concerned authorities to turn a blind eye towards the massive hoarding of kerosene and petrol by retailers. Why should the consumers bear the brunt of some irresponsible and dishonest retailers and government servants? The case is not only with kerosene or petrol the Nepali market also experiences the artificial shortage of sugar from time to time. This happens especially before the Tihar festival.

The government must take immediate action against those retailers who have been creating an artificial shortage of commodities. The Chief District Officer in every district has been empowered to take immediate action against such inconsiderate retailers who push the consumers to face inexplicable suffering and inconvenience. The consumers too should be equally receptive towards such discrepancies that hit the Nepali markets from time to time. Unless they themselves take the initiative to protect their rights, nothing much can be done about the artificial shortage. It is the duty of each and every consumer to ensure that they are being protected by the Consumer Protection Act not only in the case of kerosene, petrol and sugar, but every other commodity that affect the health of their families. Nepal has an open border with India. The porous border has always inspired black marketers to smuggle commodities to the country where prices are higher. It is the duty of the government to revise the price list of all commodities including kerosene and petrol so that the prices are at the level of prices in the Indian market. This would contribute immensely to plug the unscrupulous flow of goods in the bordering areas and thereby help to maintain the supply level avoiding the sporadic artificial shortage witnessed in the market.