Call For Contribution

DEPUTY Prime Minister and coordinator of government negotiating team Badri Prasad Mandal said that efforts must be made from all quarters to transform the present ceasefire into permanent peace in the country Talking to media persons in Biratnagar the other day, Deputy Prime Minister Mandal called upon all political parties, civil society and responsible citizens to make their sincere contribution for the success of the peace talks and restore permanent peace in the country. Peace is, no doubt, a number one priority of the country as the violence and terror over the last seven years has seriously affected every sector of the society. As per the wish and will of the people, the government took sincere efforts to end violence and restore peace, security and resolve the Maoist problem peacefully. The Maoists also reciprocated to the government's efforts for peace. As a result, the ceasefire and code of conduct were agreed upon. With the declaration of ceasefire and initiation of peace process, people's confidence has been revived. Some tangible results have already been visible. The economic sector has started showing positive results. Tourism industry, which is the backbone of Nepal's economy, has started picking up. Once the violence is permanently ended, the country's economy and other sectors would really surge ahead. Now the government has been moving very cautiously to solve the Maoist problem permanently. For this, the government has formed a six-member negotiating team with Deputy Prime Minister as its coordinator. The composition of the team, which comprises senior ministers, is a clear example that the government is committed to resolve the crisis and restore peace. The formal peace talks are expected very soon. However, some political parties do not appear serious and cooperative to the process. It is not the time to raise petty things and sabotage the peace process. If the peace talks fail, it would not be at the interest of the nation and the people. History and future generation would condemn those, who try to derail and disturb the peace process. Thus, it is the testing and trying time for all of us including the political parties and politicians. All political forces and individuals need to brush aside political and partisan interest and seriously make contribution for the success of the peace talks.

Penalise Crooked Traders

THAT Nepalese consumers are cheated time and again in broad daylight with complete impunity by many traders is a common knowledge. Unsuspecting consumers are hoodwinked into paying inflated prices for goods often substandard. When caught by consumers, traders could not care less as they have comfort in the knowledge that legal mechanisms to punish them are weak. So, they continue to merrily wait for another victim to sell them adulterated petrol, diesel or kerosene, fake medicines, underweight cooking gas cylinders, tainted food of all kinds etc. Doctoring weights and measures is extremely common, be it by meat sellers or vegetable and fruit sellers. Given such rampant trade malpractices, it came as no surprise that the government took action against 1512 business houses and organisations in the first nine months of the current fiscal year for engaging in malpractices to cheat customers. These traders were caught by monitoring teams composed of representatives from four government departments. The Department of Commerce joined hands and coordinated with the Department of Food Technology and quality Control, the Department of Nepal Standards and Metrology and the Department of Drug Administration. This is certainly a welcome monitoring modus operandi. As a result of such a joint monitoring that also saw participation of Consumers' Protection Council, such a large number of unscrupulous traders were caught and penalised.

Such a joint approach to monitoring trade practices must be continued in the future to relieve consumers from the tyranny of crooked and devious businessmen. True, the three departmental allies of the Department of Commerce do undertake monitoring forays into the market in their respective fields viz food, medicines, and weights and measures. But their efforts were more ad-hoc than systematic. Joining hands together provides for a more systematic and vigorous monitoring on these essential aspects of market monitoring. Having said this, however, one nagging issue is the deterrence factor of such monitoring and punishment. Unless the culprits are sternly punished for their nefarious acts, such monitoring cannot act as an effective deterrence. Thus a suggestion that emerged at the meeting of the four departments on Thursday that the Department of Commerce should have a legal officer who could initiate action in court is a sound one. As of now, in most cases the wrongdoers are let off with a paltry fine that hardly deters them from fleecing their customers in the future. Hence, stronger legislation, stronger enforcement and stronger court proceedings against the sharks among the traders are essential, if the market is to be free from such malpractices.