National
NFC accused of jacking up price of aid rice in Bajhang
People in Bajhang district have accused Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) of trying to sell rice sent by Bangladeshi government for the survivors of Gorkha Earthquake at high price.People in Bajhang district have accused Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) of trying to sell rice sent by Bangladeshi government for the survivors of Gorkha Earthquake at high price.
The state-run food agency has around 300 quintals of the grant rice waiting to be sold in the district, but the people are not interested in buying rice that are dearer by up to Rs 3 per kilogram.
“The corporation is supposed to provide rice at subsidised rate, not demand more than the market price,” said Uttam Thapa, of Kalukheti village. “Why would people pay more for the corporation rice when they could get it for lower price in the market ?”
Like Thapa, many people in the district believe that the NFC should be selling rice at lower price, particularly after the district suffered a nine-month long drought. At the time of the drought, local grocers in Bajhang had jacked up the price of rice. “Now it is the corporation trying to rip the people off,” said Thapa.
Ishworidatta Pandey, the NFC Bajhang district chief, said only the price of parboiled rice was slightly higher than the market rate.
“The price is higher because we are selling superior quality rice than what is being sold in the market,” he said.