Students withdraw strike

The eight agitating students unions have agreed to withdraw their protests after the government expressed commitment to fully implement its decision to provide them 45 percent discount on public transport fares. In a meeting held between representatives of Ministry of Labor and Transport, Department of Transport Management, Home Ministry and the ... student unions Thursday evening, the government expressed commitment to punish those refusing to provide the discount, according to Nepal Students Union (NSU) president Pradip Poudel.Eight student unions had started indefinite public transport strike in various parts of the country including in Kathmandu Valley since Wednesday to exert pressure on the government to implement 45 percent discount on transport fares.Most public vehicles remained off the road in Kathmandu Valley due to student protests on Thursday as well. Agitating students vandalized a government vehicle in front of Amrit Science Campus, Lainchour.The government had decided to raise public transport fare by 27 percent following the recent sharp hike in the price of petroleum products. However, student unions have alleged that transport operators have raised fares in excess of what was determined by the government.Poudel informed that the government side also expressed commitment to monitor if there was increment in transport fare by more than 27 percent and punish those involved in such practices. He said the government has also agreed to determine transport fare on the basis of kilometers rather than through a flat rate.Meanwhile, Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has alleged that the government had failed to abide by the agreement to provide discount to transport entrepreneurs in return for the discount given to students. It also said that the government had failed to pay heed to the problem of misuse of student identity cards.Issuing a press statement, FNNTE has also drawn government attention to transporters' demand for compensation for damaged vehicles and also the need to ensure effective law and order.

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