The rapid decline of consumer rights in Nepal
In the field of business a customer is always hailed as the king, but in reality the consumers are not treated with respect. They are overpriced, duped, and exploited. At times consumers find themselves abandoned, as no one is there to commiserate with their predicaments. They have been demoted from kings to powerless consumers whose voices go unheard. In today’s context, consumers are not the king, but the manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers rule the roost.
Maximizing the profit in the competitive market is the essence of modern business, where consumers’ satisfaction is always given prime importance. However, this norm has become less important today. Manufacturers and producers have developed many ways to cheat consumers. Sometimes, their cheating is seen openly, but other times, they cheat consumers in a much more concealed manner. Are general consumers aware of such nefarious practices of the sellers? Perhaps most consumers are completely in the dark, and they are regularly being exploited at the hands of the sellers.
The manufacturers have developed many ways to exploit the consumers. The quality of goods is slightly compromised, and a huge profit is made without consumers’ knowledge. Our supermarkets and shopping malls are flooded with such goods which quality has been compromised without any knowledge of the consumers. Moreover, there are so many goods available which quantities have been reduced but not the prices. Many packets are sold on the market that contain only 800 or 900 grams instead of 1000 grams, but they still charge the price for 1000 grams.
Adulteration is another method to maximize their profits. Although adulteration is a criminal act, many sellers appear to disregard the law. They have no fear of the law. But the question is, why don’t they have any fear of the law? The answer lies in the dirty politics of the country, where corruption has been rampant. It seems that corrupt politics have permeated the system at every level. When a seller is arrested on charges of food adulteration, authorities usually take little or no action against the culprits. Why is it so? It is because the seller knows how to negotiate with the corrupt officials of the system. Thus, they have no fear of the law at all. Despite committing a serious crime of food adulteration, many unscrupulous sellers remain unpunished.
The case of food adulteration cannot be taken for granted. It is due to food adulteration that nowadays many hospitals across the country are flooded with serious diseases like cancer. Many recent researches have confirmed that food adulteration is one of the prime causes of the rising cases of cancer among the people. Food adulteration is a grave crime. However, the question is how many big companies have received severe punishment for food adulteration?
Interestingly, the government often mentions its commitment to consumers’ rights. In order to curb any malpractices in the market, the consumer protection courts have been set up in the country. It sounds very enthusiastic, but the truth is, how many people in the country know about these consumer protection courts? Do ordinary consumers know how to approach these courts and how to initiate a case in court? The truth is always bitter. In reality, only a small number of people are truly aware of the existence of these courts. Otherwise, the majority of people in the country are completely unaware of these consumer protection courts. It is quite a rare phenomenon when these courts ever meted out punishment to influential sellers or manufacturers.
Sometimes wholesalers and major retailers store particular goods and create artificial shortages in the market. Consumers often panic and begin hoarding goods in anticipation of their scarcity in the market. This is a longstanding tactic that continues to be used to exploit consumers.
It is also found that whenever the petroleum prices are hiked, many wholesalers, retailers, and transporters correspondingly increase the prices of their products and services. For the increased prices, they easily shift the blame onto the additional transportation cost. But the funny part is that the petro prices come down, but the prices of goods never do.
Many advertisements on the electronic and print media make fabulous claims about the products, which are misleading and untrue. Many gullible consumers believe in those rosy claims and buy their products. Giving false information and selling goods is also a serious crime. Some companies even use the words "100% natural," "no preservative added," and "certified by so-and-so." These claims hold little truth but more misinformation. The reality is that they use chemicals and preservatives. The only effective way to contain such practices is for the government to verify the information printed on their products.
There are many products being circulated in the market that do not mention expiry dates. In the past some companies were found selling expired items in new packaging. There are still many products available in our shopping malls that mention the list of false ingredients. Should these products not be tested to confirm whether they genuinely contain all the ingredients listed on their labels?
It should not be an exaggeration if it is said that the Nepalese consumers are the least informed in the world. Most of the consumers are completely unaware of their rights. Even if they are cheated at the hands of the sellers, they lodge no complaints and let it go. The situation of consumers in the rural area is even worse. Numerous rural regions of the country lack access to basic transportation infrastructure. In these areas, goods are transported primarily by mules, donkeys, or manual labor. In such areas, the local sellers decide the prices of various goods irrespective of the prices printed on the products.
To bring general awareness among the consumers, the government needs to establish a functioning consumer forum in every town and village. These forums must be granted sufficient legal authority to effectively protect consumers’ rights. If possible, then a separate council for the consumer protection department must be established under the Ministry of Supplies.
There is no shortage of laws to penalize unscrupulous and fraudulent producers and sellers in the country. Previous governments have also demonstrated a firm stance in combating black marketers and food adulterators. However, keep in mind that only establishing various forums, organizations, and action centers to safeguard the rights of the consumers is not enough. A strong willpower is necessary to implement these laws with force.
There should be a zero-level tolerance against the black marketers and food adulterators. Only strict punishment will deter subsequent cases of black marketing and food adulteration in the country.
Establishing small committees at the local level is an effective measure to keep consumers vigilant and informed. A membership card can be distributed, and they should immediately contact their respective committees whenever they are exploited.
These are a few simple yet very effective steps that can yield enormous results in the long term. The government alone cannot reach every nook and cranny with its limited resources. The active participation of local committees will greatly assist the government in achieving the desired success and securing victory in the battle against black marketing and food adulteration.
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