Dashain shopping a uphill task with inflated price

Kathmandu, Sept 20: People heading to the market for shopping in view of the near-approaching Bada Dashain festival end up disappointed after upcoming across inflated price by the traders.

Though the number of people arriving for wholesale, retail and fair-price shops, especially clothing, utensils and food stuff, they are taken aback as calculations go wrong with a notable increase in the market price. 

Sajana Acharya, who came to Mahabouddha in Kathmandu from Godavari in Lalitpur for shopping, said that even though she came to the city to shop for cheap goods she found that the prices had increased compared to the past. “Prices have increased even more now than before Teej festival. It seemed that traders have increased the prices reasoning last week’s agitation."

Acharya also lamented the failure of regulatory and oversight agencies in curbing the market price on the eve of the festivals. “Even though government agencies urge us to ask for a bill for any goods purchased, traders don't give any bills. Even if they have to, they don't give PAN or VAT but unauthorized bills.”

Traders however argue that the prices have been increased due to the closure of Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border crossings with China. 

Mangal Bahadur Tamang, who came from Thankot, says that impunity is growing because the government does not monitor and has not developed a system to take action against the guilty. He says that despite the three-tier government, no one is interested in monitoring the market and ensuring consumer rights.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Bada Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals, the Food Management and Trade Company Limited has started fair price shops since last September 15. This has provided some relief to consumers. Information Officer of FMTCL Madhav Mishra shared that edible and food stuff are available in discounted price in the fair price shops.

Compared to market price pulses, rice, sugar, and wheat products are available for at least five to seven rupees per kilo cheaper. Similarly, a discount of seven rupees has been given on cooking oil, bitten rice, flour, etc. A discount of Rs. 10 has been given on tea leaves, cumin, coriander, and traditional food items. Information Officer Mishra said that the fair price shops will operate until Chhath festivals.

If at least one such fair shop should opened in each ward of the municipality to give some relief to the consumers during the festivals, said Balaram Koju, who came to Kathmandu to buy goods from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur.

Major markets of the capital including Asan, Indrachowk, Mahabouddha, New Road, Sundhara, Teku and Tripureshwor have seen an increase in the number of consumers coming for Dashain shopping.

Bada Dashain, of the major festivals of the majority Hindus in the country, begins with Ghatasthapana on coming Monday.(RSS)