Kathmandu: In celebration of Constitution Day, the government has launched a series of subsidized fair price shops aimed at providing essential goods at reduced prices during the festival season. The initiative is set to begin today with an official event at 1 PM in the premises of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) in Thapathali.

Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, announced that the fair price shops are part of a broader plan to provide relief to citizens during the festivals by curbing the impact of price inflation. In a message shared via social media, Minister Bhandari stated, “On the occasion of Constitution Day, we are launching fair price shops at 61 locations across 42 districts, organized by the Food Management and Trading Company and Salt Trading Corporation.

This initiative aims to ensure that essential goods are available to the public at reasonable prices during the festival season.”

The Food Management and Trading Company, along with Salt Trading Corporation, will offer essential food items at slightly discounted prices compared to the market rates, with some items available for up to NPR 10 less. The government has allocated a budget of NPR 38 million to these two organizations to subsidize the price reductions for consumers during the festive period.  These fair price shops will provide citizens an opportunity to purchase essential goods at a lower cost, offering some relief during the upcoming festival season.