There’s nothing such as free lunch, especially lunch served at Jwai Jethan Hotel. The owner of this popular eating joint in Chandranigahapur Chok, Rautahat, does not take kindly to the customers who do not pay for their meals. This was evident when the establishment owner, Ananda Dahal, recently took to the social networking sites to publish the names of the individuals who had failed to pay up their dues for a long time.

The defaulters’ list was all over the social networking sites by Friday. This naming and shaming did the trick. One after another those persons mentioned on Dahal’s roster of shame started visiting him to pay their debts. 

“Out of more than Rs 2 million that was owed, I collected nearly half of the sum within a matter of days,’ Dahal said. “Some customers paid their debts without complaining, whereas others were angry because they felt defamed.” 

Dahal said he was compelled to publish the names of debtors because they had been stalling the payment for a long time. He was grateful to the individuals who took the time to read his post and share it. 

Dahal’s list includes a Nepali Congress leader, a ward chairman and entrepreneurs. 

“Even though they were well capable of paying the money, they were refusing to clear the dues. Whenever I asked them about the money, they used to act hostile,” Dahal said. Ghunchun Sah, the ward chairman of Garuda Municipality, who owed Rs 2,500 to the eatery, said he was not pleased with what Dahal did.

“I am not one of those who do not pay their dues. He (Dahal) should have asked for the money in person, rather than publishing the list online,” Sah said.  

Dahal, meanwhile, remains unperturbed. Already, he is planning to publish another list. 

“Some of the persons on the list have threatened to kill me, but that is no matter. You eat, you pay, that’s my policy,” he said.