In anticipation of the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals, fair-price shops have been launched across Nepal to offer essential items at discounted prices. This initiative, which began on Thursday, aims to ease the financial burden on consumers during the festive season and will run until January 15, 2025.
The Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) is managing these shops at over 60 locations nationwide, including both the capital and other regions. The Salt Trading Corporation (STC) plans to open its own discounted shops starting September 23.
During the official launch, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari highlighted the role of these shops in controlling artificial price hikes and providing access to quality goods at lower prices. He encouraged consumers to take advantage of these facilities, which are designed to stabilize market prices during peak demand periods.
The FMTC will offer substantial discounts on various essential items, such as:
- Rice and lentils: Rs. 7 off per kg
- Beaten rice, cooking oil, wheat flour, sugar: Rs. 7 off per kg
- Salt: Rs. 2 off per kg
- Karnali beans, buckwheat, Marsi rice: Rs. 7 off per kg
- DDC ghee: Rs. 10 off per kg
Additionally, live goats and mountain goats will be sold at a discount of Rs. 10 per kg at the FMTC’s Thapathali depot.
To improve accessibility, consumers can order essential goods online with free delivery, and both the FMTC and STC will operate mobile vans to reach more customers.
Consumer rights advocates have called on the government to establish permanent fair-price shops at the local level, suggesting that regular FMTC outlets could better serve community needs. The FMTC also recently inaugurated a fortified rice plant at its Thapathali depot, developed with support from the World Food Programme.
This initiative marks a significant effort to ensure consumers can celebrate the festivals while having access to affordable essential goods.
