Government charges heavy airfare in rescuing stranded Nepalis abroad

Government charges heavy airfare in rescuing stranded Nepalis abroad

By Our Reporter

The activities of the present communist government led by KP Sharma Oli are no different from a goat trader. It does not hesitate to cash in on the crisis. The government that shamelessly resorted to corruption while purchasing medical supplies required for the control and treatment of COVID-19 patients has now making money in the name of rescuing the Nepalis stranded abroad.

It has fixed the airfare almost double the normal fair to rescue the migrant workers from Gulf and Middle East. The activities of the government look merciless. How could the penniless migrant workers who had lost jobs and were waiting for their rescue pay the unreasonable fair. It seems Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai are worried more about the business of the Yeti holdings than the poor Nepali people. They not only allowed the Yeti Holdings to rescue the Nepalis but also agreed on the fare fixed by it.

However, the government’s pro-businessmen attitude drew severe criticism not only from the people but also from the ambassadors appointed by it.

Nepal’s ambassador to Oman Sharmila Parajuli outright challenged the unethical design of the government by making arrangement to send the stranded Nepalis from Oman in less than the fare fixed by the government.

The Nepali Embassy mission in Oman published a notice calling for applicants who want to flyto Nepal through the evacuation flights. According to the notice issued by the embassy, the passengers could fly to Nepal for 298 US dollar against the government fixed fare of 510 dollars.

As per the schedule given by the government, the NAC will operate 24 flights and Himalaya Airline and other international airlines will operate 19 and 24 flights respectively.

The national flag carrier has recently made public the air fare for its rescue flights to different 29 destinations as per the preparation of the government to bring Nepali citizens from different countries.

But the corporation would conduct the scheduled rescue flights only if 85 per cent occupancy of aircrafts was guaranteed.

As per the air fare made public for the rescue flight of NAC, the minimum airfare is for Delhi which is Rs. 25,200 and highest is Rs. 195,500 for Sydney and Melbourne.

Similarly, air fare to Doha, Abudabi and Kula Lumpur is Rs. 47,500, Rs.52,100 and Rs. 45,200 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to rescue Nepali migrant workers stranded abroad for being unable to afford the return fare on their own in free of cost.

On Monday, during the final hearing of writ petition filed by advocate Som Prasad Luitel, the apex court ordered the government to evacuate those migrant workers who were not able to bear the air-fare by mobilising the ‘Foreign Employment Welfare Fund’ on the basis of their nature of work and income level.

(People’s Review Print Edition)