Fervor missing in market

Nepali festival season is on. But the fervor usually visible in the market is missing. Various factors such as lack of purchasing power, high price of goods and services, black marketing of festival-related goods, etc. have rendered the market dull this time. Market, they say, mirrors the health of the economy. That Nepali economy has not been able to make any headway in development sector, production sector and other manufacturing areas could easily be felt through a visit to the most popular markets of Kathmandu Valley. The government knows about it but has not been able to take appropriate measure to restore dynamism in sale and purchase in the market. The current lack of enthusiasm in the market is the result of many years of economic negligence. Because the country could not have political stability even after the successful general election, the economic scheme could not be charted well and the same has resulted in the current dullness in market. Dashain, Tihar and Chhath are not just the events for those who actively engage in their celebration, they are the occasions in which those who do not observe them also get engaged buying new goods, having funs and joining friends and relatives in myriad types of socializations. A sort of Nepali way of observing festivals could be felt on those occasions in one way or another. Economically, the trend pushes up the demand which in turn could push upward the economic activities and transactions. The private sector could have used the occasions to reignite the financial motivation for investors, producers and sellers. The government should have facilitated the private entrepreneurs in this regard. The government has in the meanwhile expressed desire and plan to check black market trends during the festivals. For that purpose, all 77 districts have been asked to prepare an appropriate action plan for controlling artificial shortage of goods and unnecessary increase in prices. The measures to be undertaken for the purpose should not discourage the market; it should on the other hand inspire the market to expand sales and services. The trend to sell sub-standard goods or spoiled goods should be checked properly in the broad interest of the consumers. Market monitors should make sure that their measures should not punish those who are doing business in an honest and accountable way. They should have the will and scheme to let the market behave properly, in a financially determined manner. Their intervention should in no way further damage the interest of all players of the market including the consumers, producers and the middle business people. Although this measure is not enough to bring about full fervor in the market, it would provide some sort of relief in the same.