Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU; Consumers affected from network marketing business have asked the government to promote the business as a fair trade.

They have formed an organisation –– Network Consumer Welfare Protection Forum Nepal (NCWPF) –– to fight against the irregularities in the business. “The Forum is formed to protect consumers from networking business,” said coordinator of the Forum Samsher Gahatra. It has prepared a 18-point demand to present before the government. “Our demands are targetted at making the business more responsible and transparent,” he said adding that it will voice only for consumer. “We will present the demands to the Ministry of Industry (MoI), Ministry of Commerce and Supply (MoCS) and 75 district administration offices within this week,” he said. “The Forum will urge the government to strongly regulate the business and protect consumer rights.”

According to NCWPF, around three million people are associated with the networking business throughout the country.

The Department of Commerce estimated that the networking business is worth of Rs 28 billion. The ministry has banned the networking business revoking Network Marketing Directive 2010 and formed a committee to study legal status of the business as it is against the Consumer Protection Act. Consumer rights groups have also been challenging the legal status of the directive.

“We donot want illegal business to operate,” Gahatra said adding that the promoters should be brought to the book. However, he questioned the role of government in legalising the business. “Why did the government adopt back channel to legalise the business,” he questioned challenging to investigate the government’s role in enforcing and cancelling the directive.

Moreover, the Forum is planning to start massive awareness campaign about networking business. “We are holding motorcycle rally in Kathmandu on Wednesday,” Gahatra informed.