Consumer groups seek role in pricing mechanism

Dec-30th-2011
KATHMANDU: Consumer rights activists have urged the government to involve them in pricing mechanism of the country as change in price directly hit to people.

The government must seek opinion of consumer before setting price of public services and essential goods, said Shirish Despande, consumer activist from India in capacity building workshop of Nepali consumer groups. “Consumer voices should not be ignored while changing price of petroleum products, electricity tariff, and public transport and cargo fare,” he said. “India and Nepal has almost same legal frameworks but Nepali consumer movement is not united for strength,” he said. He also urged consumer groups to specialise in particular fields from consumer education, complain handing, lobbying .

Consumer International (CI) has organised the work shop to build capacity of Nepali consumer groups and government. “Consumers can not be protected unless they get justice in their own localities. For this, market monitoring mechanisms should be strong and people access to consumer court to be easy,” said Indrani Thuraisngham, team leader of the UNIDO-CI project.

Joint-secretary of Ministry of Law and Justice Dilli Ghimire said that the government is always positive to protect consumers and working in the regards. “New draft of Consumer Protection Act has included basic needs and healthy environment rights to people. Consumer court has also envisioned in the draft,” he said.

According to him, The amendment proposal has passed by cabinet last week.

Himal..