Two days later, a market monitoring team found petroleum pumps operated by government manipulating the quantity of fuel dispensed to cheat consumers. The team found that Naxal-based petrol pump operated by Nepal Police was supplying 110 ml less quantity of fuel on every 10 liters supplied. Similarly, Nepal Army was found supplying 40 ml less quantity of fuel on every 10 liters sold to consumers.
This incident shows how government entities, who are supposed to uphold consumer rights and take action against wrongdoers, are making mockery of consumer rights.
Referring to the incident, Madhav Timalsina, president of Consumers' Right Investigation Forum, told Republica that no one can be trusted. "If government agencies give a leeway to such wrongdoings, who shall consumers trust to?" he wondered.
Market anomalies by private sector are also increasing in recent months. Renowned bakery brand 'Krishna Pauroti' was recently found producing food products in unhygienic environment. Similarly, liquefied petroleum (LP) gas bottlers and dealers are cheating customers by creating artificial shortage of LP gas and selling LP gas at higher price. Likewise, sale of outdated and adulterated products is going on unabated.
How Consumer Perception Guides Consumer Behavior
Consumers are being cheated in terms of quality, quantity and price of food items, goods and services. While private sector is at top when it comes to consumer right violation, government agencies are also to be blamed as they are not taking effective measures to control such malpractices.
WHY ARE SUCH ANOMALIES INCREASING?
Timalsina opines that lack of effective laws and reluctance of government agencies to implement them is one of the reasons behind growing violation of consumer rights. "According to a latest government report, around 1,800 market inspection activities have been carried out in this fiscal year so far," Timalsina said, adding, "Number of firms have been found involved in malpractices, but the government has not filed case against any of those firms."
Jyoti Baniya, general secretary of Forum for Protection of Consumers' Right (FPCR), said market monitoring should be made result-oriented and guilty should be brought to book to control malpractices in the market and discourage unscrupulous traders. “If the government cannot take visible action in time, there is no point carrying out inspection activities," added Baniya.
An official of DoCS conceded that some government officials are working as per the interest of big traders. "Government officials should realize that they are here to serve people and protect consumer rights,” the official said.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Stakeholders say the government can control malpractices by intensifying market monitoring and making such activities result-oriented. They also say endorsement of Consumer Protection Policy would be a milestone in controlling market anomalies.
"We are giving finishing touches to the draft of the Consumer Protection Policy. It will address all the issues related to consumers,” Deepak Subedi, spokesperson of MoCS, said.
