OCP conducted 12 awareness workshops on pilgrimage regulations in January

The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) conducted awareness workshop regarding Package Pilgrimage Rules and Regulations 2017 in 10 places which includes Phuentsholing, Gedu, Thimphu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bangtar, Narphung, Gelephu, Tingtibi, Panbang and Dagana in the month of January.

An OCP official said, “OCP conducted awareness workshop in few places in which tour operators, gups and common people were briefed about the standards, procedure and responsibilities of pilgrimage operators, pilgrims and other relevant agencies who took an active part in these awareness workshops”.

The team from OCP also went to Phuentsholing on 20th January to monitor and distribute the brochures on packaged pilgrimage to the pilgrims.

The official said, “According to Election Commission’s Public Advisory, to ensure smooth, free and fair election, all government agencies, autonomous bodies, corporation, private offices, religious organization and general public are advised to avoid any events involving the general public from February till May 2018 and from August till October 2018”.

OCP said, “Since we cannot conduct any workshop from February till May, we shall continue with our awareness workshop from June 2018”.

The workshop was conducted with the help from its stakeholders such as Ministry of Foreign affairs (MOFA) and Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL).

Chencho Dem from OCP said, “As a statutory agent under MOEA, OCP is mandated to promote and protect the economic interest and safety of the consumers. We came up with this regulation to protect lives, health, safety and other rights guaranteed by section 4 of the Consumer Protection Act which states that consumer shall have the right to protection of their lives, health and safety”.