The then Director General Prem Kumar Shrestha was transferred when he protested against the decision to open the import of betel nut, plantain, chokda and pepper, Mahesh Bhattarai was also transferred after taking a strict stance on networking professionals and not opening poppy seeds.
The government has transferred Rajan Poudel, Director General of Commercial Supply and Consumer Protection Department, after standing against the profits of businessmen doing networking business in the name of direct sale of goods. Poudel was transferred after not supporting the businessmen who were lobbying for 42 percent profit based on the sale of goods.
The businessmen had started 'lobbying' to cancel the guidelines that were not favorable to them, saying that the guidelines and regulations regarding the direct sale of goods conflicted with the profits. Their position was that if the
directive is not cancelled, profit should be based on the sale of goods. For this, they met and 'lobbied' the leaders of the Department, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply, Congress, UML and even the Minister. But after General Director Paudel took the position that profit should be based on purchases, he was transferred on Friday.
'Commercial is also a department of consumers, not only thinking about commercial interests. Giving 42 percent profit in sales will hurt the common people a lot," said Director General Paudel, who was transferred from the department. In the guide, it is mentioned that 42 percent profit can be taken from the purchase. The regulation provides for a profit of up to 42 percent of sales.
'This company was renewed on the condition of keeping profit based on the purchase of goods, but there was pressure from the businessmen to reverse it,' said an official of the department, 'The atmosphere deteriorated after there was no positive response from the director general.'
Political party leaders also have investments in networking business. Experts say that due to this, pressure has been created to maintain profit in the selling price. Businessmen are 'lobbying' to cancel the 20-point directive.
After getting information about networking in the name of direct sale of goods, the then Director General Mahesh Bhattarai issued 20-point instructions issued on 26th January 2079. The Directive places a complete ban on direct or indirect branches or operations of foreign companies in direct sales or networking of goods. "Do not perform any work responsibility or role as a direct or indirect branch or operation of any foreign company engaged in direct sale of goods or networking or any other type of activity," said point 11 of the directive.
Although the law and regulations stipulate that foreign companies cannot operate branches, most of the companies are operating branches of foreign companies. But the government body is silent on this matter. Now 23 companies have got the license for direct sale of goods.
Most of those companies are doing networking. They demand that the 20 points which have become obstacles in the business should be abolished. The then Director General Mahesh Bhattarai was under pressure to cancel the 20-point directive. He was also under pressure to open the import of pomace. For that reason, he was transferred on February 15, 2080, said the official of the ministry.
'Mahesh Bhattarai tried to be the most strict, that's why networking professionals were not happy. At the same time, there was pressure from the ministry to open the post office, said an official of the ministry, Bhattarai started after refusing to open the disputed post office.
Paudel and Bhattarai are only representative characters. Experts say that the Commercial Supply and Consumer Protection Department is operating under the pressure of traders. Consumer activist Madhav Timilsina claims that when the ministry gives priority to traders over the director general, the director general is transferred. "The ministry is running on the advice of businessmen. The director general changed when the interest of industrial traders was more than the interests of consumers. The price increase is too much, without paying attention to it, the Director General has been changed to fulfill his own interests," Timalsina said.
The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection is responsible for regulating market distortions. The work of price increase, black market, syndicate monitoring is also the responsibility of the department. But the director general is transferred in the interests of the businessmen. An example of this is the then Director General Prem Kumar Shrestha. The officer claims that he was removed from the General Directorate after protesting the intermediary.
Director General Prem Kumar Shrestha was also transferred on Chait 25, 2078 when he opposed the decision to open the import of betel nut, banana, chokda and pepper. He had been saying that opening the import of betel nuts when the foreign exchange reserves were reduced would put more pressure on the economy and it was not an essential commodity.
The then Director General of Supply Management and Consumer Protection Department, Kumar Dahal, was also transferred to a big commercial house based on monitoring and taking action. At that time, KP Sharma Oli was the Prime Minister and Matrika Yadav was the Supply Minister. Industrialists met them and pressured them.
Dahal was transferred in Baisakh 2075 after monitoring and action started in big schools, hospitals, vehicles and other areas, said an official of the ministry. Dahal, who appeared in the ministry since Wednesday, has again become the director general of commerce. Dahal's challengers are networking professionals, betel nuts, bananas and poppies. Dahal said giving priority to good governance and encouraging those who do good work. He said that strict rules should be imposed against those involved in fraud.
