Take a strong action against bank defaulters: Gautam

Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Kul Chandra Gautam has called upon Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) to take a strong action against bank defaulters.



Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Kul Chandra Gautam (File Photo)

Speaking at an interaction organized by FNCCI in the capital, Thursday, Gautam said, “It is unconscionable that well-to-do businessmen, industrialists and investors abuse the banking system and get away with impunity, while small borrowers are deprived of small loans and penalised for delayed payment.”

Stating that the business community has its own responsibility also, Gautam added that he would, therefore, like to see FNCCI taking a stronger stand that all banks loan defaulters payoff their debts promptly.

85 big willful defaulters are yet to repay the loan or to restructure it as ordered by the government during the budget of current fiscal year.

He termed the general strike called by FNCCI on Tuesday as paradoxical. "It was an irony and an indicator of the extremely serious situation of lawlessness in the country that the business community, which opposes strikes and bandhas found itself calling for a general strike," Gautam added.

The FNCCI called on general strike on Tuesday demanding fulfillment of their demands despite the call from Prime Minister not to do so and the Court's order.

He further said that private sector will be the key sector for new Nepal in the context of post-conflict environment.

“Nepali corporate sector could play a significant role for a prosperous Nepal in an atmosphere of market-driven competition,” Gautam added.

He said that the job of the government is to invest in key basic social services and infrastructure, provide a fair and transparent regulatory framework, and create a conducive environment for ordinary citizens, farmers, businessmen and industrialists to use their latent human entrepreneurship to meet consumer demands for goods and services.

He was of the view that rule of law in Nepal is extremely weak and, extortionists demand for forced-donations by cadres of a political party and double taxation have hit the business sector.

Gautam said that the business community has the legitimate right and responsibility to demand and expect that all arbitrary, extortionist, lawless actions be stopped at once.

Speaking on the occasion chairman of FNCCI, Chandi Raj Dhakal said that business sector has been hit hard due to increased criminal activities, attack by sister organisations of political parties, increased extortion and forced donations.

“These sorts of activities compelled us to hold general strike for a day demanding for total and lasting peace in Nepal at a time when there is a ceasefire between the Maoists and the government,” Dhakal said.

He further said, "The ceasefire announced some five months ago had offered a glimmet of hope but the continuous harassment by political parties have only contributed to developing a sense of insecurity in us." nepalnews.com pb Oct 20 06