Private sector worried as bandas make a comeback
KATHMANDU, MAY 12 -
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that bandas should not be the medium for making their demands heard.
The apex body of the Nepali business community has expressed serious concern over the return of chronic bandas in recent days as the constitution drafting deadline of May 27 approaches and debates over state restructuring are taking centrestage in national politics.
It urged organisers of shutdowns to put forth their demands through the talks table and allow entrepreneurs and workers to work.
“It is natural for people of all classes and groups to express their demands in a democracy, but bandas should not be the medium to put forward the demands,” the FNCCI said in a press statement on Thursday.
Stating that a day’s banda leads to losses worth billions of rupees, the FNCCI said strikes are detrimental to the development of the country and its economy.
Life across the country was affected following a nationwide banda jointly called by the Brahmin and Chhetri communities on Thursday and Friday, while the demand for an undivided Far West has shut down the region for the last 15 days.
“Positive political developments over the last few weeks had given us hope of a timely constitution and boosted our confidence,” FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya said. “However, the return of the bandas have made us serious again.”
The FNCCI has also asked the government to create an environment conducive to operating industries and businesses.
Tourism entrepreneurs say they are watching the tourism market closely and cautiously in the run-up to the May 27 deadline. According to them, the bandas have adversely affected trekking and rafting, the most popular adventure activities among visitors. They fear tourist arrivals could take a hit if these bandas continue. Tourist arrivals in the first four months of 2012 (January to April) has been impressive with 23.1 percent increment.
As the country seeks to attract huge domestic and foreign investment through the Nepal Investment Year 2012-13, the private sector is worried that the increased frequency of the bandas will distract foreign investors.
“We, as a domestic investor, may be able to recover what the economy loses during the two or three days of bandas,” said Pashupati Murarka, vice-president of FNCCI. “But, we may not be able to assure the foreign investors to make investments here if a chain of bandas keep crippling the country.”
Bandas are of great concern to the Nepal Investment Board too, which has been mandated to deal with investors on major projects. Its chief executive officer Radhes Pant said that though the strike organisers may have their own ‘genuine causes,’ every stakeholder, including the government, should be aware of its consequences.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
