Affordable shops targeting festivals begins operation
These shops, run by the Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation (STC), aim to provide essential food items at subsidized rates to benefit citizens.
KATHMANDU: Starting Monday, the government has opened affordable price shops across Kathmandu and other regions of Nepal in preparation for upcoming festivals.
These shops, run by the Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation (STC), aim to provide essential food items at subsidized rates to benefit citizens.
Unlike previous years, when such shops were inaugurated with grand ceremonies, this year’s launch was conducted without formal events.
Shoppers can expect discounts ranging from Rs 5 to 10 per kilogram/liter on various staples.
Food Management and Trading Company Limited, through its regional head Dharmakumari Rajbanshi, announced that the shops stock a variety of items including rice, lentils, spices, oil, sugar, wheat flour, and other essentials.
Key discounts include:
Rice, wheat, lentils, and vegetables: Rs 5 per kg
Sugar: Rs 5 per kg
Flattened rice (chiura), wheat flour, refined flour (maida), tea leaves, cumin, coriander, and other spices: Rs 7 per kg
Cooking oil: Rs 7 per liter
Beans, buckwheat, traditional maize varieties (marshi), and Basmati rice: Rs 10 per kg
Rajbanshi noted, “We are offering 51 different items from the Food Management Office at our outlets. Our main shops in Ramshah Path, Nakkhu, and Dakshinkali are operational, with plans to expand to Godavari and Changunarayan starting the first week of Ashwin.”
She also mentioned that although a Rs 10 per kg discount on mutton was planned, supply remains uncertain due to disruptions caused by ongoing protests.
Meanwhile, Salt Trading Corporation (STC) has opened similar subsidized shops, selling salt at Rs 24 per kg and 2 kg sugar at Rs 190.
They are also offering discounts on popular rice brands, including Bhanasaghar Rice and STC Sona Mansuli Rice.
This year, STC has established over three dozen affordable shops nationwide. In the Kathmandu Valley, outlets are operating in Kalimati, Satungal, Jawalakhel, Koteshwor, Sifal, Kapan, Balaju, Sallaghari (Bhaktapur), Kaushaltar, Kadaghari, Imadol, and Maharajgunj.
Outside the valley, shops have been set up in Birtamod (Jhapa), Biratnagar (Morang), Rajbiraj (Saptari), Lahan (Siraha), Janakpur (Dhanusha), and Birgunj (Parsa).
