Already affected by the pandemic, people in Zhemgang now feel that their livelihoods will take a further hit from the unfair practices by shopkeepers. Residents are not happy with the high price of essentials which is rising beyond their affordability.
A resident returning from the market with a packet of vegetable seeds found himself cheated by the seller. While the MRP printed on the packet was Nu 20, he bought the seeds at Nu 45. Similarly, a bottle of disinfectant which actually cost Nu 65 was bought for Nu 85. In both cases, the original price tag was overwritten or scratched off. Many said there have been similar reports where shopkeepers charge unreasonable prices. However, people there do not report such malpractice to authorities.
“I noticed some shopkeepers charge an exorbitant price. At the source, they buy cheaply and sell to consumers at a very high price. People like us from remote areas are suffering a lot because we do not earn money,” said Dorji Khando, from Bardo Gewog.
“Our rural people are the most affected. We have difficulty buying essentials here,” said another.
They said there is a need for strict monitoring from the concerned authority. “This should be done frequently or else it will remain the same,” said Tshering Tenzin, also from Bardo Gewog.
However, the shopkeepers claimed they follow the consumer protection rules and stick to the MRP or less. Some also said they do not hike the price in order to protect their goodwill since Zhemgang only has a handful of customers.
“For garments, we do not have MRP and also we do not charge that much. We charge them only after calculating the transportation and tax,” said Bolanath Ghalley, a Shopkeeper.
According to Office of the Consumer Protection (OCP) officials in Thimphu, the office conducted an advocacy programme with the business entities in Zhemgang. The office also said it conducted monitoring and inspection in Zhemgang. An official also said remote areas are more vulnerable than urban. They plan to impose fines and cancel the licenses of the business if found to indulge in unfair practices.
Recently, a shopkeeper in Zhemgang town was asked by OCP officials to refund the extra amount charged to a person who went to buy chart papers. BBS learnt that only a few educated people tend to report such issues to authorities.
Pema Samdrup
Edited by Sonam
