Consumer welfare needs to be protected: Home Minister

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has said that industrialists and entrepreneurs should be sensitive towards consumer’s welfare.

Speaking at a program organized by the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection and Kathmandu Metropolitan City on the occasion of World Consumers Rights Day Tuesday, Home Minister said that all sides should be serious towards the welfare of consumers as entrepreneur is also a consumer.

Stating that the government would not lag behind to implement the provisions related to consumer rights mentioned in the constitution and laws, he urged the industrialists to become accountable to the people. “Entrepreneurs are also consumers in one way or another. The government does not want to discourage industrialists. I believe that entrepreneurs will also be sensitive to the interests of consumers,” he said.

Stating that the government is aware of the consumers being affected by the rise in prices of daily essentials, the Home Minister said that the government is taking maximum initiative to control the prices of consumer goods. “The government has kept the prices of petroleum products under control as much as possible,” he said.

The Home Minister also stressed on the need to increase the use of electronic devices to bridge the trade deficit, spurred by increasing fuel imports.

Chair of the Committee on Industry and Commerce and Labor and Consumer Affairs of the House of Representatives Bimal Srivastava said that the government should pay attention to guarantee the rights of consumers.

Chairperson of the Consumer Interest Protection Forum Jyoti Bania, representative of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Hari Prabha Khadgi and Chair of the National Consumer Rights Forum Prem Lal Maharjan also spoke about various aspects of consumer rights protection and promotion.