PEs to get Rs 26m from govt

KATHMANDU, March 11:

The government has decided to provide Rs 25.7 million to three public enterprises (PEs) to compensate for the loss that they incurred while operating fair price shops in different parts of the country during the Dashain-Tihar-Chhath festive season last year.

National Trading Limited (NTL), Salt Trading Corporation (STC), Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) and Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) had operated fair price outlets across the country, providing food commodities as well as home appliances to customers at subsidized rates.

The PEs had sold products like sugar, rice, salt, ghee and lentils along with home appliances, machineries and electrical appliances at reasonable rates through the fair price shops.

“We have decided to provide Rs 25 million to the PEs,” Deepak Subedi, joint secretary at MoCSM, told Republica. “The subsidy amount was finalized based on the reports submitted by PEs as well as the study conducted by the ministry officials.”

Last year, the government had provided subsidy of Rs 17 million to PEs to operate fair price shops.
According to the ministry, NFC, STC and NTL will receive Rs 3.7 million, Rs 12 million and Rs 10 million, respectively. DDC will not get any subsidy as it hadn´t claimed for the subsidy. It had operated only one fair price outlet in this fiscal year.

“The subsidy amount is a bit higher this year as the fair price shops were opened until Chhath. This increased the loss of the PEs,” added Subedi. He further added that the ministry will recommend to the ministry to release the amount within a couple of days after further verification of the reports submitted by the PEs.

FAIR PRICE SHOPS ROUND THE YEAR SOON

Meanwhile, the ministry is preparing to run fair price shops across the country round the year.
“We have already held discussion with the concerned PEs regarding operation of such outlets throughout the year. They have responded positive to our call,” Nuta Raj Pokhrel, under secretary of MoCSM, said. He added that the ministry will give final shape to the concept very soon after holding final round of talk with the stakeholders.
“Such outlets will not only provide customers different products at reasonable rates, but also play a vital role in maintaining healthy competition in the market and controlling anomalies in the market,” he added.

Source: Republica