Local traders said they would slash prices of meat products by 10 percent, textiles by 5 percent, readymade items and cosmetics by 5 to 25 percent, sweets by 5 percent and rice by Rs 1 per kg.[break]
“The cut has been announced in a bid to ease life for general consumers. After all, everyone deserves to wear new clothes and have sweets and meat during the biggest festival of the country,” said Uma Shankar Agrawal, a local food supplier. He said traders would also offer discount in prices of other goods as well.
Officials of Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry have welcomed the decision of retailers. However, local consumers express doubt over retailers providing the relief genuinely. “It is good that they (traders) have announced discount offers. But we doubt they have set the prices genuinely and offering the discounts sincerely,” said Rekha Chhetri, a housewife.
“Discount offer is probably a hoax. Otherwise, who would provide goods at cheaper rates when people have to buy goods at any rate,” said Birendra Sahani, a rickshaw puller.
Retailers, however, said their offers were genuine. They have even entered into an agreement with local administration, promising not to raise prices of sugar, ghee and other food items during the festive season.
Chief District Officer of Chitwan Basanta Raj Nepal lauded the initiatives of retailers and also informed Republica that he was also holding talks with them to supply sugar at lower rate. “I have requested them to sell sugar at price not higher than Rs 64 per kg. They are positive on my request,” he added.
Nepal also informed that the local administration is continuing market inspection to check black marketing, adulteration and check expired goods selling.
Consumers, however, complained that market inspection has not been as effective as it should have been. They even blamed the officials conducting inspection of leaking the information of their visits, making market inspection ineffective.
President of Consumers Rights Protection Forum, Chitwan, Shailendra Shrestha said market inspectors so far have excluded large wholesalers, focusing on retailers only. “Unless goods at wholesaler-level are inspected, we cannot say the inspection has been effective,” he added.
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