Networking company dupes gullible laborers

Operators of Smart Right Way (SRW), a networking company based in Jhapa, have fled after collecting a hefty amount of money mostly from local manual workers. Jaya Prakash Kalwar, the main operator of SRW, had collected Rs 13,000 each from many manual workers.  Kalwar has been out of contact for the few weeks now. Locals suspect that Kalwar might have run away with their hard-earned money. Over 4,500 people have become SWC members so far. In Jhapa district alone, 85 persons have got SRW memberships. They were promised various benefit packages -- life insurance worth Rs 800,000, monthly allowances of Rs 3,000 for five year, financial support for those who want to construct their houses, among other things. Moreover, they were promised a diamond ring if they added five new members in a week. A number of laborers had taken loans at a high interest rate from local moneylenders to get SRW memberships. "We, all five members of our family, submitted a total of Rs 65,000 by taking loans at 2 per cent interest rate," said Ratna Kumari Phunyal, a tea estate worker in Jhapa. Phunyal had persuaded seven of her acquaintances to become SWC members. She also got a “diamond” ring for adding five new members to SWC network within a week. Later, it turned out that it was not a diamond ring at all. "All those whom I persuaded to become SWC members are now asking me to return their money," she said. Kalwar is a resident of Birgunj. His networking company, which has its headquarters in Thapathali of Kathmandu, is learnt to have expanded its branch offices in Dang, Banepa, Birgunj and Biratnagar as well.