NADA to implement MRP provisions on vehicles

Kathmandu, Apr. 22

NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal welcomed the provision requiring all imported goods sold in Nepal to clearly display the maximum retail price (MRP) and the mandatory issuance of invoice during sales.

A delegation from the Association met Director General Roshan Gyawali of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DoCS) the other day to discuss a recently issued directives on affixing stickers indicating the MRP on automobile products.

During the meeting, the NADA delegation said the department’s press statement issued last week had drawn its attention.

Following a discussion with the Nepal Foreign Trade Association (NFTA), the DoCS had issued a statement on April 13 directing all importers to mention the MRP on imported goods and issue bills while selling them.

It also directed them to implement the provision within a 15-day period, and after that if any goods were sold without MRP, punitive measures would be adopted.

NADA's discussion with the DoCS was focused on how to make the provisions workable and implementable. The delegation raised concerns about the treatment of existing stock and questioned the practicality of requiring stickers to be affixed at customs points, read a statement from NADA. It also stated that it has consistently supported fair trade and transparency in business practices.

In response, Gyawali said the provisions were based on the existing Consumer Protection Act 2035 and aligned with the government’s 100-point governance reform plan, which prioritises their implementation. He said the department remains committed to enforcing the rules and described NADA’s concerns as constructive.

Gyawali added that the department is prepared to address practical challenges in implementation but emphasised that cooperation and commitment from businesses would be necessary.

He also stated that the department would take a strict approach towards manufacturers and importers in enforcing MRP labelling requirements, and invited NADA to propose legal reforms if existing provisions require amendment.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 April 2026.         

Jyoti Group, Rich's India to collaborate on food service

Kathmandu, Feb. 25

Padma Jyoti Group has expanded its collaboration with Rich’s India to strengthen the development of Nepal’s food service and culinary sector.

The two companies said in a statement that the expanded agreement aims to improve customer engagement, support chef training, and introduce global culinary trends suited to the Nepali market.

Rich’s, part of Rich Products Corporation, was established in 1945 and has operated in India for more than 30 years. The company is known for its non-dairy whipped toppings and products used in bakeries, desserts and food service. It has been present in Nepal for about two decades. "The new agreement is intended to expand its activities beyond distribution and focus on technical support and market development," read the statement.

Under the collaboration, the companies plan to provide technical training, product demonstrations and knowledge-sharing programmes for chefs, bakers and food service operators across Nepal. According to Padma Jyoti Group, the initiative is expected to help professionals adopt international practices and maintain consistency in food quality.

The Group said it will use its distribution network and market presence to support the expansion. The partnership will also provide technical guidance and product support to businesses in the retail, bakery and hospitality sectors.

The group entered the fast-moving consumer goods sector in 2007 through Sun International Incorporated, which distributes ice cream and frozen desserts across Nepal. The company has expanded its distribution network in recent years.

According to the Group, the partnership reflects its focus on bringing international food products and practices to Nepal.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 February 2026.     

NCC urges awareness before putting MRP and labelling rules into effect

Kathmandu, Jun. 4

The Nepal Chamber of Commerce has drawn government’s attention to the issues arising in the implementation of MRP (Maximum Retail Price) and product labelling.

A delegation from the business body, led by its Vice-President Deepak Shrestha, submitted a recommendation to the Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Wednesday, suggesting that MRP and labelling requirements be enforced only after raising awareness among both consumers and retailers.

“It is a constitutional right of consumers to access quality goods and services. To ensure consumers are not deprived of this right, awareness and publicity efforts related to the market and products must be advanced," the NCC said in a statement.

However, without moving these efforts forward, the recent actions taken by the Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection (DoCSCP) have adversely affected legitimate industrialists and traders who comply with state laws, rules, and regulations, read the statement.

The DoCSCP, in accordance with Section 6 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2075, has issued a notice requiring all domestic and imported products to carry labels indicating the MRP. However, according to the NCC, the current market monitoring and unnecessary punitive actions taken by the Department are damaging the already fragile industrial environment.

Although there had been an agreement to resolve disputes regarding MRP and labelling through mutual dialogue after conducting awareness campaigns among consumers and traders, the NCC noted that the DoCSCP has instead continued to intimidate entrepreneurs unnecessarily, in violation of that understanding.

The Chamber has urged an end to the intimidation and penalisation of entrepreneurs without due cause. Meanwhile, it also made clear that the NCC will not support any trader or business engaged in illegal or unauthorised activities.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 June 2025. 

Govt has no intention to handover salt distribution to private sector: Minister Bhandari

Kathmandu, May 19

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, said that reports suggesting the government intends to hand over the iodised salt supply to the private sector are misleading and baseless.

Speaking at an interaction programme on consumer protection jointly organised by Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) and Salt Trading Corporation (STC) on Monday, Minister Bhandari clarified that the government has not made any such decision.

The STC is supplying the iodised salt at subsidised rates across the country.

“The government makes decisions in a transparent manner. We are currently in the process of preparing the budget and the policy and programme has already been announced. But no decision has been made regarding transferring the salt trade to the private sector,” Minister Bhandari said.

Likewise, he said if there have been instances where STC failed to deliver or faced issues in transportation, those concerns could be discussed and addressed. “If there are complications, we can discuss how to resolve them. But it is unfortunate that such unfounded reports have been published,” he said.

Minister Bhandari also stated that the distribution system for the iodised salt had been planned in coordination with local authorities, based on estimations of annual salt requirements calculated from household population figures. “We estimated the salt needs based on the average household size and coordinated accordingly,” he said.

During the programme, Minister Bhandari also highlighted the significant role STC has played in promoting local agricultural products and ensuring the availability of essential commodities.

According to him, the corporation has been instrumental in maintaining a stable supply chain, particularly during major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar, by operating subsidised fair price shops.

“During last Dashain, STC ensured an adequate supply of sugar, preventing any potential shortage. We are in discussions on how to facilitate closer cooperation with institutions like STC to streamline the supply chain. As a key commercial arm in the implementation of government policies, STC plays an essential role,” he said.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at resolving various issues within the supply chain system.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO of the STC, Urmila Shrestha, expressed her commitment to supply quality goods to Nepali consumers at the reasonable rate.

The STC also supplies wide ranges of consumer goods including sugar, wheat flour, rice, lentils, edible oils, chemical fertilisers, construction materials, cooking gas, coal, tea and soap. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 May 2025. 

Nabil Bank receives ISO certificate for data safety

Kathmandu, Jan. 12

Nabil Bank Limited has received the ISO 27001:2022 certification by Intercert, a globally recognized certification body.

This certification underscores Nabil Bank's dedication to safeguarding customer data and ensuring robust information security practices, the bank said in a statement on Sunday.
Intercert handed over the certificate to the bank officials at a programme organised at Nabil Bank's head office in Kathmandu on Sunday.

According to the bank, Intercert conducted a thorough audit of Nabil Bank’s information security management practices, systems, and controls before granting the certification.

"With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, Nabil Bank’s adherence to ISO 27001:2022 demonstrates its proactive approach to managing information security risks and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical data," read the statement.

Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Gyanendra Prasad Dhungana, said, "Achieving the ISO certification reflects our dedication to implement robust security measures and continuously improving our information security management system."

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 January 2025. 

Consumers predict price hikes in next three months

Kathmandu, Feb. 15

A recent survey of the Nepal Rastra Bank has shown that the majority of consumers have a feeling that the price of goods would go up in the next three months.

According to the results of Inflation Expectations Survey (IES) of the second quarter of the current Fiscal Year 2022/23 conducted by the central bank, 84.6 per cent of respondents have expected price levels to increase in next three months.

Likewise, 92.3 per cent of respondents have expected price levels to increase over the next one year.

The survey was conducted during January 8-14 this year among individual respondents from 60 market areas through field interviews. The results are based on responses from 2,010 individuals.

However, the share of respondents expecting price increases in next three months as well as next one year has decreased from mid-October, 2022. It was 86.6 per cent then which was also lower than that of mid-July 2022 when 94.7 per cent participants had said that the price would go up in the following three months' period.

The share of respondents expecting price increase in food and its sub-group except fish, meat, milk, ghee and oil and hotel and restaurant has increased. However, the increment is nominal with expectation for food price hike going up to 88.9 per cent in mid-January from 87.2 per cent three months earlier, while respondents thinking the price of vegetables and fruits would go up to 86.5 per cent in January from 82 per cent in October last year.

The share of respondents expecting price increase in non-food and services and real estate (housing) during the next three months has slightly decreased compared to that of mid-October, 2022. The expectation percentage in terms of non-food and services has come down to 74.5 per cent from 76.1 per cent, according to the report.

The share of respondents expecting price increase in one year ahead across the entire food products, except for fish, meat, milk, ghee and oil, drinks and tobacco and hotel and restaurant along with non-food and services groups has decreased compared to October last year.

Median inflation expectation for three months ahead and one year ahead has remained same compared to mid-October 2022 and mean inflation expectation for three months ahead and one year ahead has decreased, said the NRB.

Median inflation expectations for three months and one year ahead stand at 10.0 per cent and 12.0 per cent respectively which means individuals expect inflation to remain stable in the near term as well as in medium term.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 February 2023.

‘Tax exemption should be in favour of consumers’

Kathmandu, July 1

Experts have expressed concerned over whether the tax discounts given to the businesses and industries have reached the consumers.

If consumers do not benefit from such discounts, they should be scrapped, they said at a dialogue organised by Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFJI) on Friday.

“The government should analyse if the tax discount resulted in more employment, environment protection, productivity and economic growth,” said Sujata Pariyar, a member of the Industry, Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives.

She said that the committee had directed the government to replace the discriminatory tax policies so that it could help address the maladies of the business community and make positive impact on the economic growth of the country.

CPN-UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai said that the revenue policy should be changed keeping in view the interest of the consumers and protection of domestic industries.

He said that the government should save itself from feeding handful businessmen formulating a policy only in favour of them. “The business community should also give priority to the local production and national interest,” he said.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Divya Mani Rajbhandari said that consumers would face problems in the future if the entrepreneurs were affected today. He suggested the lawmakers and the businesspersons to refrain from the ‘conflict of interest’ in order to save the integrity of both the professions.

Chairperson of the Consumer Interest Protection Forum Jyoti Baniya said that the country's policy has failed in revenue strategy. However, he said that the industrialists are mainly responsible for this. "It was the industrialists who ruined the system when it came to developing the system," he said.

Member of the National Revenue Advisory Board Lekh Nath Sharma Pangeni said that the board would try to include the demands and compliants of the business sector.

However, according to him, the NRAB had suggested the government to conduct group audit of the large business houses and impose digital service tax as well. He suggested learning from India and France while developing a policy to force digital companies like Facebook and others to pay tax locally in Nepal.

Likewise, Economist and tax expert Dr. Chandra Mani Adhikari said that Nepal's tax policy has witnessed frequent changes.

He said that it would not ensure investment, and added that it was time to adjust the tax policy that would not change from government to government.

“For whom should the state make policy? When the state formulates the policy, it has to take care of who is affected. Interest of the consumer should be taken into account,” said Dr. Adhikari.

He also questioned whether the tax exemption for the businesses would reach the consumers.

Speaking at the programme, industrialists of various sectors said that they were affected as the government has decreased the customs duty of the finished goods while domestic products are paying high taxes. “It has created adverse situation for us,” said Dolaraj Adhikari, President of Sanitary Pad Manufacturers’ Association.

“Domestic industry has reached the point of closure due to the tax policy of the coming year. The government has given 90 per cent discount on imported goods but domestic industries are paying 8.5 per cent tax on raw materials imports,” he said.

Former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Pradip Shrestha said that the policy adopted by the government through last year's replacement budget has not benefited the consumers. He said the government's policy against the billet industry had resulted in a Rs. 8 billion drop in revenue and no fall in the price of iron bars.

Kiran Shakh, an industrialist, said that 20 industries were in crisis due to the government's policy of protecting the industries that make billet from sponge iron. According to him, most of the companies are in the verge of collapse.

He said that the government has adopted a policy of taxing seeds, chemical fertilisers, food grains, vegetables and medicinal products imported to Nepal. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 July 2022.   

Consumers expect price rise by 10%

Kathmandu, Feb. 18

A latest survey conducted by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has shown that the common people have high expectation of double-digit inflation over the year.

According to the Inflation Expectations Survey conducted by the Economic Research Department of the NRB from January 5 to 11 this year among individual respondents from 17 market areas of 14 cities across the country, median inflation expectations for one year ahead and current perception is 10 per cent.

However, the inflation for the next three months is 8 per cent. Households expected inflation to decrease in the near term and remain at current level in the medium term, read the report.

The results are based on field interviews of 720 urban individuals.

About 92 per cent of respondents have expected price level to increase in next three months. Likewise, 97 per cent of respondents have expected price level to increase over the next one year. The share of respondents expecting higher inflation has slightly increased from October 2020, read the report. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2022. 

Do not doubt govt capacity to maintain supply of goods: Minister Bhatta

Kathmandu, Mar 18

Nepali consumers are living with the blockade psychology which has forced them to store the essential goods amidst the threat of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, said Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta.

"Driven by the fear of the shortage of the food items and cooking gas, people have started storing more goods," he said while talking to The Rising Nepal Wednesday.

"I have met people who have bought salt, rice and gas that would last for more than two years. This is madness. The consumers should also be aware about the situation and know that the supply of goods has not been stopped," he said.

People still doubt the capacity of the government in maintaining the supply of essential goods.

The minister is aware of this fact. He said, "We have set toll free telephone numbers and hotlines to hear the compliant of people. Citizens should also be responsible," he said.

He is for the close coordination between the government and consumers where people play the role of the market monitors to keep the market clean.

When consumers become ready to pay higher prices to get the things they want, it would only support the black marketers and criminals.

The minister who actively participated in the market monitoring in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara in the last couple of weeks had seen people buying a sack full of salt (50 kg) for a family of five.

According to him, petroleum oil supply situation is normal; however, clear stock of LP gas has created panic for a while. The stock was cleared as people started collecting as much cylinders as possible.

There is no constraints in supply, it is the consumers’ tendency to collect multiple cylinders and black marketing and hoarding by some industries and dealers that has sent negative messages to the people, said Minister Bhatta.

However, he stressed on more rigorous market monitoring to ensure the smooth supply of the goods to the consumers.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has asked  the Ministry of General Administration for additional human resources for the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection which is the focal agency for the regulation and monitoring of the market in the country.

Likewise, it has asked the district administration to be more active in monitoring the market and report if there is short supply of any goods, and discussed the issue with the business bodies like the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Association of Pharmaceuticals Producers of Nepal, Gas Industry Association, Gas Dealers Association and other responsible agencies.

"We have appealed to the industries and dealers as well as the consumers not to exhibit panic and store the goods. Black marketers and hoarders were fined as much as Rs. 300,000. I have asked the gas industries myself to facilitate the supply chain and not to disturb the market," said Bhatta.

According to him, the pharmaceuticals industries and Department of Drug Administration have assured that there was medicine stock for at least six months.

He also said that the government was taking the CVID-19 threat as an opportunity to expand the pharmaceutical industry. "The government is ready to facilitate the pharmaceuticals to make the country self-reliant in 80 per cent of medicines," he said. "I have talked with the Indian ambassador about releasing the medicines from India. India is positive about sending medicines both stuck at the border and restricted by the government."

If there is a border seal for health reasons, it wouldn't be like the blockade and both the countries will facilitate each other as much as possible and the essential medicines as well as other goods will be supplied in a coordinated way, said Minister Bhatta.

Talking about the impact of the COVID-19 on the industrial sector, he said that some of the government and private sector projects such as Dhaubadi Iron Industry and petroleum drilling in Dailekh had already been affected.

Industrial villages in the local bodies

Minister Bhatta said that the government was planning to establish industrial villages in 37 local bodies within this fiscal year. The government had the target of 70 such villages this year but the Memorandum of Understanding was signed with only 37 units.

There is a plan to establish industrial villages in all local bodies within next five years.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 March 2020. 

SC upholds stay order on Pesticides test

Kathmandu, July 17

The Supreme Court has upheld its stay order on the embargo of importing vegetables without testing pesticides residue in them.

A joint bench of justices Hari Krishna Karki and Bam Kumar Shrestha had given the verdict against the Cabinet decision of July 4 which halted the order published in the national Gazette on June 17 that declared to test the pesticides in the vegetables and fruits being imported to Nepal and put an embargo on the imports of caffeine goods like Redbull that do not have 75 per cent validity time.

Since the country has pesticides testing facilities at Birtamod of Jhapa, Biratnagar of Morang, Nawalpur of Sarlahi, Butwal of Rupandehi, Pokhara of Kaski, Nepalgunj of Banke, Attariya of Kailali and Kalimati of Kathmandu districts, there is no difficulty in implementing the June 17 information, reads the full-text of the verdict.

"If the Cabinet decision of July 4 is implemented, it will have severe repercussion on public health and may cause unrecoverable loss which is against the decision of Consumer Protection Act, 2075 and fundamental rights of the citizens," read the text.

The government in its decision had said that there was only one internationally accredited lab at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) at the central level for pesticides testing, and there were no accredited lab at the customs points or near them. It also said that the import of vegetables and fruits would be continued without pesticides testing until the development of proper infrastructure for the same.

But the Gazette information had imposed a mandatory provision of quarantine and pesticides testing in fresh vegetables and fruits.

The Supreme Court has made a special reference to the Article 44 of the Constitution that says every consumer has the right to have quality goods and services. Similarly, the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 Article 3(2) protects consumers from the sales and distribution of goods and services that could have negative impact on human lives, health and properties.

Lawyer Bishnu Prasad Timilsina had filed a writ on behalf of the Consumer Right Protection Forum for the certiorari on government decision on allowing the vegetables from India and other countries without pesticides testing.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 July 2019. 

MoWS wants to monitor bottled water

Kathmandu, Aug. 28: The Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS) on Tuesday said that the regulation of bottled water production companies should be under its jurisdiction.

“Multiple inspections and monitoring have shown that the bottled water lack quality, and it’s the MoWS that has to face the criticism from people. In order to ensure the desired quality in the water products, the MoWS should have the right to monitor and punish the guilty,” said Minister for Water Supply Bina Magar at the meeting of the Development and Technology Committee (DTC).

Previous monitoring had concluded that as much as 80 per cent of the jar water was unsuitable to drink.

Currently, the water industries are registered and regulated under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply while the Department of Commerce, Supply and Protection of Consumers (DoCSPC) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control are the monitoring and inspection agencies.

The minister also questioned the branding of the bottled water.

“So far as I know, they don’t actually have any minerals but are sold as mineral water. There must be some standards to be called as the ‘mineral water’, and the government will develop such standards,” she said.

The DTC directed the ministry to prepare the quality standard of drinking water to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to everyone as per the fundamental rights included in the Constitution.

The committee has also directed to make the provision of providing Nepal Standard to the drinking water supplier based on its purity and quality.

The lawmakers urged the ministry to manage safe drinking water at the office of every local government and, if possible, in all government offices.

They said that the people should not be forced to buy drinking water while in the government offices.

Meanwhile, the DTC directed the MoWS to complete the Melamchi Water Supply Project within the stipulated deadline.

Stating that frequent postponement of the dates to supply drinking water from the Melamchi project to the Kathmandu Valley has raised questions over the trustworthiness of the government, the committee directed the ministry to address the problems faced by the project and complete it within the stipulated time.

The project was, the last time, stipulated to be completed in October this year before the Dashain festival.

Earlier, the project postponed the deadline of its completion several times in different pretexts.

In today’s meeting, the committee Chairman Jip Chhiring Lama also directed the ministry to formulate a long-term strategy by making the demand assessment of drinking water and managing resources to address the long-term demand.

To address the high demand of drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley, the committee directed the government to focus on the sub-project of Melamchi Drinking Water to add 340 million litres extra water from the Yangri and Larke rivers.

Similarly, the committee also directed the ministry to submit the condition of sewage system in Kathmandu and its management in 15 days after bringing the water from Melamchi to Kathmandu.

The committee also directed for the effective implementation of the Water Sector Development Plan, 2016.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 August 2018. 

सावधान, थाहै नपाई बैंक खाता रित्तिएला !

के तपाईंको ई–मेल वा एसएमएसमा आफूले नगरेको बैंकिङ कारोबारको विवरण आएको छ ?
के एटीएम बूथमा पहिले नदेखेका वा अस्वाभाविक उपकरणहरु जडान गरेको देख्नु भएको छ ?
के एटीएम बूथमा एकभन्दा बढी कार्ड स्लटहरु छन् ? वा कुनै स्लटमा कार्ड छिराउँदा त्यसले काम नगर्ने भएको छ ? 

यदि त्यस्तो भएको छ भने थाहा पाउनुस तपाईं ई–बैंकिङ ठगीको शिकार हुनु भएको छ वा कसैले तपाईंको बैंक खाताको विवरण लिने प्रयास गर्दैछ । सावधान हुनुस् । यस्तो भएमा तत्काल आफ्नो बैंक वा प्रहरीलाई खबर गर्नुस् । पछिल्लो समय नेपालमा एटीएम ठगीका ठूलाठूला घटना भएका छन् भने इण्टरनेट बैंकिङका ग्राहकहरु माथि पनि ठगीका प्रयास भइरहेका छन् । । गएको दुई वर्षमा नेपाल प्रहरीको अनुसन्धान ब्यूरो (सीआईबी)ले एटीएम कार्डसम्बन्धी ठगीमा संलग्न विभिन्न युरोपेली नागरिकलाई पक्राउ गरिसकेको छ । टर्किस, बुल्गेरियाली, रोमानियाली नागरिक सयौं एटीएम कार्ड, कार्ड रिडर, राइटर तथा हिडन क्यामेरासहित पक्राउ परेका छन् । उनीहरुबाट हजारौं अमेरिकी डलर, युरो तथा लाखौं नेपाली रुपैयाँ पनि बरामद भएको थियो ।
तर, यस्तो ठगी नेपालमा मात्र भएको भने होइन, प्रविधिको विकास सँगै त्यसको दुरुपयोग गर्नेहरुले संसार भर नै बैंक तथा भुक्तानीका माध्यमहरुमा अवरोध सिर्जना गरेर ठूलो रकम लुट्ने गरेका छन् । गत माघमा ह्याकरहरुको एक समूह बंगलादेशको केन्द्रीय बैंकको नक्कली रकम भुक्तानी आदेश सिर्जना गरी सो बैंकको न्यूयोर्कस्थित फेडरल रिजर्भ बैंकको खाताबाट १० करोड अमेरिकी डलर झिक्न सफल भएको थियो । ह्याकरहरुले दर्जनौं भुक्तानी आदेश जारी गरेकामा फेडरल बैंकले ८५ करोड डलर भुक्तानीका ३० कारोबार रोक्का गरेको थियो । अत्याधुनिक सूचनाप्रविधिका साधनको दुरुपयोग गरी ठूलो रकम लुटिएको बंगलादेशमा यो पहिलो घटना भने होइन । तीन वर्षअघि त्यहाँको सोनाली बैंकबाट ह्याकरहरुले २ लाख ५० हजार डलर उडाएका थिए । त्यस्तै, सन् २०१५ मा इक्वेडर र भियतनामका बैंकबाट पनि ह्याकरले लाखौं डलर लुटेका थिए ।

कसरी हुन्छ एटीएम ठगी ? 
विदेशी अपराधीहरु पर्यटक भिसामा नेपाल आउँछन् । उनीहरु बढी भिडभाड हुने क्षेत्रका एटीएम बुथमा विद्युतीय कार्ड रिडिङ तथा स्किमिङ डिभाइस तथा हिडन क्यामेरा फिट गर्छन् । हिडन क्यामेरा किप्याडमा टाइप गरेको पिन कोड खिच्ने गरी माथिल्लो भागमा टाँसिन्छ भने कार्ड रिडिङ डिभाइस कार्ड राख्ने स्लटमा जडान गरी कार्डको विवरण लिन प्रयोग गरिन्छ । केही अपराधीले एटीएम बुथमा रहेको सक्कली कार्ड स्लटसँगै अर्को नक्कली कार्ड स्लट पनि जडान गर्छन जसमा कार्ड रिडिङ डिभाइस जडान गरिएको हुन्छ । कुनै ग्राहकले झुक्किएर नक्कली स्लटमा कार्ड राखेमा त्यसको म्याग्नेटिक पट्टीमा रहेको सम्पूर्ण डाटा नक्कली स्लटमा सुरक्षित हुन जान्छ । केही समयपछि ती साधनहरुलाई झिकेर म्याग्नेटिक पट्टीबाट स्क्यान गरी रेकर्ड गरिएका ग्राहकको गोप्य बैंक विवरणलाई कार्ड स्किमरमार्फत ब्ल्याङ्क कार्डमा ट्रान्सफर गरिन्छ । त्यसपछि त्यो नक्कली कार्ड अनि हिडेन क्यामेराले खिचेको पिनकोडको प्रयोग गरी सम्बन्धित ग्राहकको खाताबाट पैसा झिकिन्छ ।
क्यामेरा, स्किमिङ कार्डलगायत ठगीमा प्रयोग हुने सामग्री ज्यादै सानो आकार अनि कम मूल्यमा सजिलै पाइने भएकाले पनि अपराधीलाई सजिलो भएको एनआईसी एसिया बैंकका डिजिटल बैंकिङ प्रमुख परमेश्वर श्रेष्ठ बताउनुहुन्छ । सिआईबीका अनुसार त्यसरी झिकिएको पैसा डलर र युरोमा साटेर वा लगेजमै राखेर विदेश पठाइन्छ । कतिपय अपराधीले नेपाली पैसाले यहाँ महँगा सामान किनेर लैजाने पनि गरेका छन् । विदेशी पर्यटकले विदेशी बैंकका कार्ड प्रयोग गरेमा ती कार्डको विवरण अपराधीहरुले सम्बन्धित मुलुकमा रहेका आफ्ना साथीहरुलाई पठाई उतैबाट पैसा निकाल्ने गर्छन् ।

जताततै जोखिम
अझ सूचनाप्रविधिको विस्तार र मूल्यमा निरन्तर आइरहेको कारणले अहिले मानिसको हातहातमा बैंकिङ सेवा पुगिसकेको छ । मोबाइल बैंकिङ र इण्टरनेट बैंकिङजस्ता प्रविधिका कारण अहिले स्मार्टफोन वा कम्प्युटरमार्फत घर, अफिस वा अन्य कुनै स्थानबाट ग्राहकले आफ्नो खाताको रकमबारे जानकारी लिन, चेक अर्डर गर्न, रकम स्थानान्तरण गर्न र निक्षेप तथा कर्जाको सेवा लिन सक्छन् । त्यति मात्र होइन, यस्तो प्रविधिमा आधारित बैंकिङ वा ईपे जस्ता सुविध प्रयोग गरी मोबाइल, बिजुली तथा खानेपानी लगायतको बिल भुक्तानी समेत गर्न सकिन्छ । यस्ता सुविधाका कारण हाल बैंकिङ सेवा लिन बैंकसम्म पुग्नुपर्ने, लामो समय लाइन लाग्नुपर्ने जस्ता झण्झटबाट ग्राहकले मुक्ति पाएका छन् ।
प्रविधिमा भएको तिब्र विकासको प्रभाव बैंकिङमा पनि परेको छ जसले बैंकिङ कारोबारलाई सहज, छरितो र कम खर्चिलो बनाएको छ भने पर्याप्त सुरक्षाको कमी वा सामान्य असावधानीका कारण प्रविधि बैंकिङ सुरक्षाका दृष्टिले अझ बढी जोखिमपूर्ण बन्दै गएको छ । हाल इण्टरनेट वा अनलाईन बैंकिङ प्रणाली फिसिङ र फार्मिङको बढी शिकार बनेको देखिन्छ । गैरकानूनी तवरले ग्राहकको युजरनेम, पासवर्ड र क्रेडिट कार्डका विवरण प्राप्त गर्नुलाई फिसिङ भनिन्छ भने कुनै युजरलाई लिंक पठाएर वा खडा गरेर नक्कली वेवसाइटमा लैजानुलाई फार्मिङ भनिन्छ । त्यस्तै कतिपय ठगहरुले प्रयोगकर्ताको कम्प्युटर वा स्मार्टफोनमा स्पाइवेयर पठाएर समेत युजरनेम र पासवर्ड चोरी गरेको पाइन्छ ।

नेपाली बैंकका ग्राहकहरु पनि यस्ता जोखिमबाट पीडित हुने संभावना रहेको स्मार्ट च्वाईस टेक्नोलोजिजका चिफ बिजनेस अफिसर प्रणय राजभण्डारी बताउनुहुन्छ । नेपालमै पनि नबिल बैंक, इन्भेष्टमेण्ट बैंक र तत्कालीन बैंक अफ एशिया फिसिङ र फार्मिङको शिकार भइसकेको नेपाल इकोनोमिक फोरमको रिपोर्टमा उल्लेख छ । यस्ता जोखिमका कारण कतिपय बैंक अझै पनि ई–बैंकिङका नयाँ प्रडक्टहरु ल्याउन र इण्टरनेटमा आधारित बैंकिङका सुविधाहरु लागु गर्न हिच्किराइरहेका छन् । राजभण्डारीका अनुसार नेपालमा अनलाईन बैंकिङ अझै प्रारम्भिक अवस्थामै छ । अनलाइन सपिङ आउटलेटहरुले पनि ‘क्याश अन डेलिभरी’ अर्थात सामान बुझाएर मात्र त्यसको मूल्य भुक्तानी लिने गरेका छन् ।
यसको विपरित, एटीएम फ्रड तथा अनलाईन बैंकिङमार्फत ग्राहकको बैंक खातामा छेडखानी संसार भर भइरहे पनि नेपालमा ग्राहकको विवरण मात्रै चोरेर ठगी भएको तर बैंकको अनलाईन वा विद्युतीय बैंकिङ प्रणाली नै ह्याक गर्ने सम्मको अपराध नभएको एनआईसी एशिया र्बैकका डिजिटल बैंकिङ प्रमुख परमेश्वर श्रेष्ठ बताउँछन् । उनका अनुसार नेपालमा फिसिङका घटना कम भएका छन् भने बैंकहरुले आईटी (सूचनाप्रविधि) अडिट तथा कमजोरी परीक्षण गर्ने प्रचलनको पनि शुरुवात गरेका छन् । हुन त हिजोआज ग्राहकहरुमा पनि यस्ता अपराध बारे चेतना बढेको छ ।
बैंकहरुलाई सूचनाप्रविधि व्यवस्थापनमा थप चनाखो बनाउन नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले सन् २०१२ मै सूचनाप्रविधि निर्देशिका ल्याएको थियो । सो निर्देशिकाले हरेक बैंकलाई सूचनाप्रविधिसम्बन्धी रणनीति बनाउन, एक उच्च अधिकारीलाई सूचना सुरक्षा हेर्ने जिम्मा दिन, नियमित जोखिमको विश्लेषण गर्न र हर प्रकारका विद्युतीय भुक्तानी प्रणाली तथा माध्यमहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने गरी नीति बनाउन निर्देशन दिएको थियो । तर, राष्ट्र बैंकले पनि कतिपय कुरामा सुधार गर्नु पर्ने बंैकरहरु बताउँछन् । एनआईसी एशियाका श्रेष्ठ भन्छन्, ‘हरेक एटीएमको भित्र र बाहिर २४ सै घण्टा सीसीटीभी मनिटरिङ गर्नेजस्ता कुरा ज्यादै खर्चिला र अव्यवहारिक छन् ।’ पछिल्लो समय बैंकहरुमा आईटी अडिट तथा कमजोरी परीक्षण गर्ने प्रचलन भने बढ्दै गएको उहाँको भनाइ छ ।
त्यसैगरी, एससीटीका राजभण्डारी ईबैंकिङ ठगीलाई बहुआयामिक विषय ठान्नुहुन्छ र त्यसका लागि केन्द्रीय बैंक, बैंक तथा वित्तयि संस्था, ग्राहकलगायत सम्पूर्ण सरोकारवालाहरुको प्रयास आवश्यक पर्ने उहाँको भनाइ छ । ‘ग्राहकलक्षित जनचेतनाका कार्यक्रमहरु सञ्चालन गर्ने, कारोबारको रकमको सीमा तोक्ने तथा कारोबारको भेलोसिटी निरीक्षण गर्ने जस्ता कार्यले पनि जोखिमबाट जोगिन सहयोग पुग्छ,’ उहाँ भन्नुहुन्छ ।
चिपमा आधारित डेबिट वा क्रेडिट कार्डले यस्तो ठगीबाट ग्राहलाई जोगाउने सानिमा बैंकका सहायक महाप्रवन्धक बबी सिंह गडतौला बताउनुहुन्छ । सानिमाको इलेक्ट्रोनिक बैंकिङ समेत हेर्ने जिम्मा पाएका गठतौलाका अनुसार चिपमा आधारित कार्डले हरेक कारोबारपछि विशेष खालको पिनकोड सिर्जना गर्छ जुन बैंकको सर्भरमा सेभ हुन्छ त्यसले अन्य व्यक्तिले सजिलै ग्राहको बैंक खातासँग छेडखानी गर्ने संभावनालाई निरुत्साहित गर्छ । सानिमाले मंसिरको तेस्रो सातादेखि नै कार्डहरुलाई चिपमा परिवर्तन गरिसकेको छ । त्यस्तै, अनलाईन बैंकिङमा ग्राहकलाई सजिलै रकम स्थानान्तरण गर्न नदिने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ ।

नेपालमा ई–बैंकिङ
विं सं. १९९४ मा नेपाल बैंक लिमिटेडमार्फत शुरु भएको नेपालमो बैंकिङ उद्योगमा २०४० को दशकको अन्त्यतिर नबिल बैंकले क्रेडिट कार्ड लागू गरेको हो । तर, पहिलो एटीएम मेशिन स्थापना गर्ने बैंक भने हिमालयन बैंक हो जसले २०५२ सालमा एटीएम मेशिन नेपाल भित्र्याएको थियो । टेलिफोन बैंकिङ पहिलो पटक लागू गर्ने श्रेय पनि हिमालयनलाई नै जान्छ । त्यसैगरी, कुमारी बैंकले २०५८ सालमा नेपालमा इण्टरनेट बैंकिङको थालनी गरेको हो भने त्यसको दुई वर्षपछि लक्ष्मी बैंकले एसएमएस (मोबाइल) बैंकिङको प्रडक्ट ल्याएको हो ।
हाल नेपालमा मोबाइल बैंकिङका ग्राहकको संख्या १७ लाख ५४ हजारभन्दा माथि पुगेको छ भने झण्डै ४८ लाख डेबिट, क्रेडिट र प्रिपेड कार्ड जारी भइसकेका छन् । त्यसमध्ये क्रेडिट र प्रिपेड कार्ड वाणिज्य बैंकले मात्र जारी गरेका छन् भने जारी डेबिट कार्डमध्ये झण्डै ९० प्रतिशत वाणिज्य बैंककै छन् । त्यस्तै इण्टरनेट बैंकिङका ग्राहको संख्या ५ लाख १५ हजार छ जसमध्ये ४ लाख ९० हजार वाणिज्य बैंकका छन् भने २३ हजार विकास बैंक र २ हजार ६ सय वित्त कम्पनीका छन् ।
२०७३ असारसम्म वित्तीय पहुँचको अवस्था
सेवा                                  वाणिज्य विकास बैैक वित्त कम्पनी जम्मा
शाखारहित बैैकिङ केन्द्र    ८१२              –                     –                 ८१२
शाखारहित बैैकिङका सेवाग्राही २,१३,०८४     –                      –               २,१३,०८४
मोबाइल बैैकिङ सेवाग्राही १६,०४,५७८ १,३३,५६१    १६,४२७     १७,५४,५६६
इन्टरनेट बैैकिङ सेवाग्राही ४,८९,८३५ २३,०३६          २,५९४     ५,१५,४६५
एटिएम                        १,६६१           २३०                  १७              १,९०८
डेविट कार्ड               ४१,४२,३९०  ४,७९,३१८          ३५,४१७       ४६,५७,१२५
क्रेडिट कार्ड                 ५२,०१४            –                    –               ५२,०१४
प्रिपेड कार्ड                ८२,७९७                                      ८२,७९७
स्रोतः नेपाल राष्ट्र बैैक 

एटीएम कार्डको डाटा र पिन चोरिनबाट बच्ने तरिका
* एटएिम बुथबाट रकम निकाल्दा वरपर कतै अस्वाभाविक उपकरण वा अतिरिक्त मेशिनहरु जडान भएनभएको यकिन गरेर मात्र कार्ड स्लटमा राखेर पिन नम्बर हान्नुस् ।
* एटीएम बुथभित्र विशेष गरी किप्याड नजिक प्वाल पारिएजस्तो छ भने त्यसभित्र पिनहोल क्यामेरा जडान गरिएको हुनसक्छ, त्यस्तो एटीएमबाट कारोबार नगर्नुस् ।
* बुथभित्र एकभन्दा बढी एटीम स्लट देखिएमा त्यसबाट कारोबार नगर्नुस् । म्याग्नेटिक स्ट्राइपमा रहेको

डाटा चोरी गर्नका लागि बुथमा नक्कली कार्ड स्लट जडान गरिएको पनि हुनसक्छ ।
* एटीएम बुथबाट कारोबार गर्ने क्रममा तपाईंले सही पिन नम्बर इण्टर गर्नु भएको छ र तपाईंको खातामा पर्याप्त पैसा छ तर पनि मेशिनबाट रकम निस्किंदैन भने तपाईंले नक्कली स्लटमा कार्ड हाल्नु भएको पनि हुनसक्छ । यदि त्यसरी नक्कली स्लटमा कार्ड हालेको थाहा पाउनु भयो भने तत्कालै अर्को एटीएम बुथमा गई आफ्नो पिन नम्बर परिवर्तन गर्नुहोस । कुनै अप्ठ्यारो परे आफूले कारोबार गरिरहेको बैंकको नजीकको शाखामा सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस् ।
* एटीएम मेशिनको किप्याड अस्वाभाविक जस्तो लागेमा तथा मेशिनमा राम्रोसँ फिट नभएको जस्तो लागेमा सो बाट पिन एण्ट्री नगर्नुस् ।
* पिन एण्ट्री गर्ने क्रममा कसैले देखेनदेखेको यकिन गरेर मात्र कार्ड स्लटमा हालेर पिन नम्बर थिच्नुस् । सकेसम्म हातले छोपेर पिन एण्ट्री गर्नुस् ।
* बैंकबाट एसएमएस अलर्ट सुविधा लिनुस् ताकी एटीएमबाट गरेको हरेक कारोबारको विवरण तपाईंको मोबाइलमै आओस् ।
* आफूले नगरेको बैंकिङ कारोबारको बारेमा एसएमएस आएमा वा खाता विवरणमा त्यस्तो देखिएमा सम्बन्धित बैंकमा खबर गर्नुस् ।
* समयसमयमा पिन परिवर्तन गर्नुस् ।
* सकेसम्म आफ्नो एटीएम अरुलाई प्रयोग गर्न नदिनुस्, पिन नम्बर अरुसँग शेयर नगर्नुस् ।

त्यसै गरी बैंकहरुले एटीएम बुथ भित्र तथा बाहिरका गतिविधि सुक्ष्म रुपमा निगरानी गर्नका लागि सीसीटीभी क्यामेरमा जडान गर्ने र कुनै शंकास्पद गतिविधि देखिएमा तुरुन्त प्रहरीलाई खबर गर्नुपर्छ । म्याग्नेटिक स्ट्राइप कार्डभन्दा तुलनात्मक रुपमा सुरक्षित मानिएको ईएमभी चिप कार्ड प्रयोगमा ल्याएर पनि एटीएमबाट हुने ठगीमा कमी ल्याउन सकिन्छ ।

स्रोतः सीआईबी

सुरक्षित अनलाईन बैंकिङका उपाय
* आफ्नो बैंकको वेवसाइटमा जानु परेमा एड्रेस बारमा वेव ठेगाना टाइप गरेर मात्रै जानुहोस् ।
* आफ्ने बैंकको वेवसाइटमा जानका लागि अन्य कुनै लिंक वा ईमेलमा क्लिक नगर्नुहोस् किनकि त्यस्ता लिंकमार्फत तपाईंको पासवर्ड तथा अन्य विवरण चोरी हुन सक्छ ।
* कुनै पनि बैंकले तपाईंको व्यक्तिगत सूचना, पासवर्ड तथा अन्य सुरक्षासम्बन्धी जानकारीका लागि तपाईंलाई फोन, एसएमएस वा ईमेल गर्दैन । त्यसैले त्यस्ता सूचना वा जानकारी माग्दै कुनै ईमेल, फोन वा एसएमएस आयो भने सम्झनुस कि कोही तपाईंको बैंक खातासँग खेलवाड गर्दैछ । त्यस्तो भएमा आफ्नो बैंकमा खबर गर्नुस् । त्यस्ता नक्कली फोन, एसएमएस वा ईमेलमा महत्वपूर्ण सूचना पठाइसकेको भए त्यसलाई सच्याउनुस् ।
* ठूलो रकम चिठ्ठा परेको र त्यो पाउनका लागि व्यक्तिगत विवरण पठाउनुस् भन्ने ईमेलको जवाफ नदिनुस् । याद राख्नुस, तपाईंले पहिले नै नकिनेको वा जानकारी नभएको चिठ्ठा तपाईंलाई कहिल्यै पर्दैन ।
* आफ्नो कम्प्युटरमा नयाँ अपरेटिङ सिष्टम, इण्टरनेट ब्राउजर र एण्टी भाइरस राख्नुहोस । फायरवाल इनेबल गर्नुहोस् ।
* कम्प्युटरलाई भाइरस वा ट्रोजन तथा विभिन्न किसिमका मालवेयर र स्पाइवेयरबाट मुक्त राख्न नियमित भाइरस स्क्यान गर्नुहोस् ।
* साइबर क्याफे, नेटवर्कमा जोडिएको कम्प्युटर तथा सार्वजनिक फ्रि वाइफाइमार्फत कहिल्यै पनि आफ्नो इण्टरनेट बैंक खाता नखोल्नुहोस् ।
* बैंकबाट एसएमएस र ईमेल अलर्ट सेवा लिनुहोस ताकि तपाईंको खाताबाट भएका हरेक कारोबारबारे तपाईंलाई जानकारी मिलिरहोस् ।
* ईमेल तथा मोबाइल र अनलाईन बैंकिङ च्यानलको पासवर्ड बेलाबेलामा परिवर्तन गर्नुहोस् ।

स्रोत : विभिन्न बैंकका वेवसाइट 

(युवामञ्च मासिकको माघ अंकमा प्रकाशित । युवामञ्चमा यो स्टोरी पढ्न  www.therisingnepal.org.np मा गइ pdf - epaper हेर्नुहोला । )

Market monitoring to be expanded across the country

Kathmandu, July 9: Minister for Supply Ganesh Man Pun Saturday informed that the market monitoring would be expedited across the country, and warned that government officer not fulfilling their duty would be punished.

Speaking at an interaction in the capital, he said that the week-ling market monitoring proved very fruitful.

"During the week-long special market monitoring, we found substandard and non-edible food items are being sold at the cost of consumers' health. Therefore, the Ministry has decided to activate the monitoring committee led by the Chief District Officer in respective district and monitor markets across the country simultaneously," said Minister Pun.

He expressed his commitment to punish businesses running illegally as well as the civil servants that did not fulfill their duty of market monitoring.

Minister Pun informed that the government would launch campaign for consumers' rights conservation and market monitoring from the coming fiscal year which begins on 16^th July.

He clarified that the Ministry was working to improve the weak legal framework and poor inter-ministry coordination before beginning integrated monitoring campaign.

"The government will not allow to run those business that were found guilty during the monitoring if they don't comply to the government directives and make improvement in goods and service delivery," said the Minister.

He underscored the need of effective coordination among the ministries and respective departments and agencies in the market monitoring.

Minister Pun stated that the government would drive the market monitoring in war footing. "I have experienced that the monitoring is as complex as the people's war. I will push it forward as the war against the crime."

He said that the petroleum products including cooking gas import was normalized, and the temporary shortage experienced recently would be resolved soon while market would be monitored in this regard.

"The government has begun the process to import cooking gas from Paradeep too," he said. 

Speaking on a different note, Minister Pun said that while talking about the national consensus, agenda should be given priority rather than the leadership or the government.

He countered the rumour that his party, CPM (Maoist Centre) was planning to recall him from the government. "Sometimes you cannot deliver as expected, but there was no discussion in the party about asking me to quit the job," he said.

Nepali Congress leader and chairman of Apex Development Bank Bishnu Prasad Dhital accused the minister for colluding with the businessman, and trading information about market monitoring with them.

He said that in order to lead the country on the path of development, all political parties should come together and form a government of consensus. He also suggested that the CPN (MC) should pull its support to the present government and initiate fresh discussion with the NC about forming the new government. 

उत्पादक, व्यापारी र उपभोक्ताको त्रिवेणी

फागुन १ गतेदेखि वीरगञ्जमा शुरू हुने ‘नेपाल–भारत व्यापार मेला २०१४’ मा भारतीय उद्योगी–व्यवसायीको उल्लेख्य सहभागिता रहने भएको छ । हालसम्म भारतीय पक्षले मेलाका १० ओटा स्टल बूकिङ गरिसकेका छन् । मेलामा भारतीय उद्योगी–व्यवसायीका कृषिउपज, सेवा र औद्योगिक उत्पादनका स्टल रहने मेला संयोजक रवीन्द्रकुमार वरनवालले जानकारी दिए । मेलामा भारतीय व्यवसायीको सहभागिता बढाउन वीरगञ्जस्थित भारतीय महावाणिज्य दूतावासले काम गरिरहेको छ । नेपाल र भारतबीचको व्यापारिक सम्बन्ध विस्तारका लागि अति महत्वपूर्ण मानिएको मेलाले दुई देशबीच आर्थिक तथा व्यापारिक विकास र प्रविधि तथा दक्षता आदानप्रदानमा उल्लेख्य सहयोग पुग्ने महावाणिज्यदूत एस.एम. अख्तर बताउँछन् ।

मेला आयोजक वीरगञ्ज उद्योग वाणिज्य सङ्घका अध्यक्ष अशोककुमार वैद्य मेलामा तेस्रो मुलुकका व्यवसायी पनि सहभागी हुने सम्भावना भएको बताउँछन् । ‘बङ्गलादेश, पाकिस्तानलगायत मुलुकका व्यवसायी यहाँ आउने सम्भावना छ,’ उनले भने । उनका अनुसार मेलामा करीब ५ लाख दर्शक आउने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ । भारतका सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रबाट पनि ठूलो सङ्ख्यामा दर्शक आउने उनको भनाइ छ । अहिले मेलाको तयारी तीव्र रूपमा अघि बढेको छ । मेलाको तयारीका लागि मुख्य मेला आयोजक समिति र १५ उपसमिति सक्रिय छन् । मेलाको आयोजनास्थल वीरगञ्ज रङ्गशालामा स्टल तथा अन्य पूर्वाधार निर्माणको काम भइरहेको वरनवालले बताए । उपसमितिहरूले टिकट विक्री, सरसफाइ तथा खानेपानी, स्वास्थ्य सेवा, सुरक्षा, कृषि पेभेलियनलगायतका क्षेत्रमा काम गरिरहेका छन् । दर्शकको सजिलोका लागि वीरगञ्जका रेष्टुराँहरूबाट टिकट विक्रीको व्यवस्था मिलाइने भएको छ ।

नेपालको आर्थिक राजधानी र मुलुकको प्रवेशद्वारको उपमा पाएको वीरगञ्ज उपमहानगरपालिकामा आयोजना हुने १० दिने व्यापार मेला सफल पार्न यहाँका उद्योगी–व्यवसायी, सरकारी तथा गैरसरकारी निकाय सबै लागिपरेका छन् । पर्साका प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारी कैलाशकुमार बजिमयले आफ्नो तर्फबाट हुन सक्ने सम्पूर्ण सहयोग उपलब्ध गराउने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्दै जिल्ला तथा उपमहानगरपालिकामा रहेका सम्पूर्ण सरकारी निकायलाई मेलाको स्वामित्व लिई काम गर्न निर्देशनसमेत दिएका छन् । ‘यो मेला हामी सबैको हो । त्यसैले, बारा–पर्सा औद्योगिक कोरिडोरका सम्पूर्ण उद्योग सहभागी हुनुपर्छ । त्यसका लागि हामी सबैको प्रयास जरुरी छ,’ उनले भने ।

मेलालाई वीरगञ्ज र आसपासका पर्यटकीय सम्भावना उजागर गरी पर्यटक आकर्षित गर्ने माध्यम बनाउन प्रयास गरिने भएको छ । त्यसका लागि वीउवा सङ्घले बारा र पर्साका धार्मिक, सांस्कृतिक तथा ऐतिहासिक सम्पदाको जानकारीसहितको ब्रोसर प्रकाशन गर्ने भएको छ । ब्रोसरलाई मेलाको अवसरमा सार्वजनिक गरिनेछ । यहाँ पर्यटकीय गतिविधि बढाउन सकेमा त्यसले होटल तथा अन्य सेवा–व्यवसायमा सकारात्मक प्रभाव पार्ने पर्साका स्थानीय विकास अधिकारी गजेन्द्रकुमार ठाकुरले बताए ।

साना उद्यमीका लागि मेला राम्रो ‘प्लेटफर्म’ बन्ने वरनवालले बताए । साथै, मेला रोजगारीको खोजीमा रहेका युवा र रोजगारदाताबीच भेटघाटको माध्यम पनि बन्ने उनको विश्वास छ । मेलामा लघु उद्यम, कृषि, अटो, उद्योग तथा सामग्री, सूचनाप्रविधि तथा इलेक्ट्रोनिक्स, गार्मेण्ट, दैनिक उपभोग्य सामग्री तथा फूड स्टल रहनेछन् । बालबालिकाका लागि बाल उद्यान तथा विभिन्न मनोरञ्जनात्मक खेलको पनि व्यवस्था गरिएको छ । त्यसैगरी मेलामा विभिन्न गायक–गायिकाले गीतसङ्गीत प्रस्तुत गर्नेछन् भने राष्ट्रिय तथा स्थानीय कलाकारको मनोरञ्जनात्मक प्रस्तुति पनि रहनेछ । मेलामा आउने दर्शक तथा सहभागीको प्राथमिक उपचारका लागि एउटा मेडिकल टीम तैनाथ रहनेछ । त्यसमा एक एमबीबीएस डक्टर र दुई पारामेडिक रहनेछन् भने स्ट्रेचर र एम्बुलेन्सको व्यवस्था पनि रहनेछ ।

नेपाल टेलिकमले निःशुल्क वाईफाई तथा ल्याण्डलाइन टेलिफोनको व्यवस्था गर्ने भएको छ भने अतिरिक्त बीटीएस टावर थप्ने सम्बन्धमा पनि छलफल भइरहेको नेपाल टेलिकम वीरगञ्ज वितरण केन्द्रका प्रमुख अरुणकुमार चौधरीले जानकारी दिए ।

२०५७ सालमा वीउवा सङ्घका तत्कालीन अध्यक्ष बाबुलाल चाचनको कार्यकालमा वीरगञ्जमा पहिलोपटक मध्यमाञ्चल औद्योगिक व्यापार मेला आयोजना भएको थियो । त्यसको दोस्रो संस्करणका लागि अर्को ६ वर्ष पर्खनुपर्‍यो । २०६३ सालमा विजयकुमार सरावगीको कार्यकालमा वीरगञ्जमा दोस्रोपटक व्यापार मेला सम्पन्न भएको थियो । त्यस्तै, मेलाको चौथो संस्करण अशोक टेमानीको कार्यकालमा २०६८ सालमा अयोजना भएको थियो ।

January 31, 2014 Published in Aarthik Abhiyan

मुख्य आहारा बन्दै छ मासु

नेपालमा १० वर्षमा मोटोपना ६ गुणा बढ्यो

पुस २१, काठमाडौं । हाम्रो खानामा मासुको मात्रा बढ्दै गएको एक अन्तरराष्ट्रिय अध्ययनले देखाएको छ । ओभरसिज डेभलपमेण्ट इण्टरनेशनल (ओडीआई)का लागि शारदा किट्स र स्टिभ विग्गिन्सले तयार पारेको अध्ययन प्रतिवेदन ‘फ्युचर डाइट्स : इम्प्लिकेशन फर एग्रिकल्चर एण्ड फूड प्राइसेज’का अनुसार आगामी दिनमा हाम्रो आहारामा पशुपक्षीजन्य खाद्य उत्पादनको मात्रा बढ्नेछ । त्यसले भविष्यमा अन्नपातको तुलनामा मासुको मूल्य छिटोछिटो बढ्ने अध्ययनले देखाएको छ ।

खासगरी विकासशील मुलुकहरूमा मासुको उपभोगमा तीव्र वृद्धि भइरहेको प्रतिवेदनको निष्कर्ष छ । ‘बढ्दो आम्दानीले मानिस आफ्नो रुचिअनुसारको खाना छनोट गर्न सक्ने भएका छन् । त्यसमाथि आमसञ्चारमाध्यम र विज्ञापनको पनि बलियो प्रभावले सर्वसाधारणको खानाको प्रकार, बानी र शैलीमा ठूलो परिवर्तन आएको छ,’ प्रतिवेदनले भनेको छ,’ ‘विकासशील विश्वमा अन्नपात र फलफूलको तुलनामा मासु, बोसोयुक्त खाना र चिनीको उपभोग बढेको छ ।’ यसरी खाना र खाने बानीमा आएको परिवर्तनले मोटोपना र त्यससम्बन्धी रोगीको सङ्ख्या बढ्दै गएको छ । अहिले विश्वका हरेक तीनजनामध्ये एक (१ अर्ब ४६ करोड) जना औसत तौल (२५ बीएमआई–बडी मास इण्डेक्स)भन्दा मोटा रहेका छन् । प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार सन् १९८० देखि २००८ को अवधिमा विकासशील मुलुकहरूमा मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या तीनगुणाले बढेर २५ करोडबाट ९० करोड ४० लाख पुगेको छ । विकसित मुलुकहरूमा भने मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या १ दशमलव ७ गुणाले मात्र बढेको छ । कुल मोटामध्ये ५५ करोड ७० लाख विकसित मुलुकमा बस्छन् ।

नेपालको अवस्था झन् विकराल बन्दै गएको छ । सन् १९९६ देखि २००६ को दशकमा नेपालमा मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या ६ गुणाले बढेको छ । सन् १९९६ मा जनसङ्ख्याको १ दशमलव ६ प्रतिशत रहेको मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या १० वर्षपछि बढेर जनसङ्ख्याको १० प्रतिशत पुगेको थियो । निकट भविष्यमै सार्वजनिक हुने एक अर्को प्रतिवेदनले मोटोपनाको समस्या झन् बढ्दै गएको निष्कर्ष निकालेको छ । सो अध्ययनले नेपालमा मधुमेह, मुटुरोगजस्ता नसर्ने रोगका बिरामीको सङ्ख्या ८० प्रतिशत र सरुवा रोगका बिरामीको सङ्ख्या २० प्रतिशत मात्र रहेको देखाएको स्रोतको भनाइ छ ।

नेपालीको खाने बानीमा आएको तीव्र परिवर्तनले गम्भीर खालका स्वास्थ्य समस्या बढिरहेको वीर अस्पतालको मुटुरोग विशेषज्ञ डा. प्रकाशराज रेग्मी बताउँछन् । ‘पोषण कम र क्यालोरी बढी भएका खाना खाने, बिहान थोरै र साँझ बढी खाने, कार्बोहाइड्रेड धेरै भएका खाना खाने संस्कृति बढ्दै गएकाले मुटु तथा मधुमेहका रोगीको सङ्ख्या बढेको छ,’ उनले भने । अहिले शहरका धेरै मानिसमा देखिएको पेट ठूलो हुने (सेण्ट्रल अबेसिटी) पनि त्यसकै परिणाम भएको उनको भनाइ छ । यस्ता समस्यालाई सरकारी तहबाटै सम्बोधन हुनुपर्ने उनी बताउँछन् । त्यसका लागि मन्त्रालयमा नसर्ने रोगका लागि विशेष शाखा बनाउन, त्यससम्बन्धी नीति निर्माण गर्न र विद्यालयमा स्वस्थ जीवनशैलीबारे अध्यापन गराउन उनी सुझाव दिन्छन् ।

ओडीए प्रतिवेदनले मोटोपनको समस्या सबैभन्दा बढी उत्तर अमेरिका तथा उच्च आय भएका मुलुकहरूमा रहेको देखाएको छ । त्यसपछि यूरोप, ल्याटिन अमेरिका तथा मध्यपूर्वमा मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या धेरै छ । ६४ प्रतिशत बेलायतीमा मोटोपनाको समस्या रहेको छ । दक्षिण एशियामा भने मोटाहरूको सङ्ख्या कम छ, साथै उनीहरूको सङ्ख्यामा वृद्धि पनि कमै भएको छ ।

January 6, 2014 Published in Aarthik Abhiyan Daily