This picture shows online shopping promoted by FMTCL in collaboration with Khalti. Photo Courtesy: Khalti/Facebook
November 23: The state-owned Food Management and Trade Company Limited (FMTCL) has decided to operate fair-price shops till January 12. The government is going to operate the fair-price shops targeting the Maghe Sankranti festival for the first time. Initially, the fair price shop was planned from October 1 to November 21.
The company said that the operation of the fair-price shops was extended due to Maghe Sankranti festival and the dire situation of coronavirus pandemic. The company had operated the fair price shop in 29 places across the country including Thapathali, Ramshah Path, Lagankhel, Suryabinayak, and Nakkhu to facilitate the public during the festive season.
Netra Prasad Subedi, chief executive officer of the company, informed that they will give continuity to the shops till January 12.
According to him, the Salt Trading Corporation and Dairy Development Corporation have not yet decided about giving continuity to the fair-price shops yet. It is said that both the corporations have started internal discussion on extending the deadline of the fair-price shops and a decision may be taken soon.
Sharmila Subedi, information officer of FMTCL, said that the company had set a target of selling 20,000 quintals of goods within Dashan, Tihar and Chhath festivals at subsidized rates. According to her, only 10,000 quintals of food has been sold during this period. In contrast, 18,000 quintals of goods were sold in the same period last year.
Goods like rice, pulses, peas, buckwheat, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, flour, ghee, cottage cheese, sanitizer, induction gas stove and goats were sold at the fair-price shops. The three companies also exchanged products and sold food items to diversify their products.
The government operates festival-oriented fair-price shops every year with the expectation that it will help curb the problem of unnecessary price hikes and market price interventions during the festive season.
