Limalenden Longkumer
Mokokchung | July 9
Lipzana Cosmetics, one of Mokokchung’s leading retailers of cosmetics and toiletries, located at the Daily Market, is a prominent example of how ‘benami’ or ‘anonymous’ traders in the name of locals are saturating the market in the town. “All these goods and products in the shop are mine,” confesses Amirul Islam, the proprietor of the cosmetics store. “I pay my rent for the shop to the owner but the business is mine. Everything in this shop including the furniture is mine (sic).” Interestingly, the ‘owner’ of the shop referred to in this case is the owner of the building in which the shop is established, and not the owner of the business. Jamil, another migrant businessman and owner of Modern Electronics also admits that he pays only for the rent to the ‘malik’ of the shop, but that all the goods in the shop are his.
What is interesting here is that although the migrant businessmen are the proprietors of their own businesses, the Trade Permit for their businesses are found to be in the name of their local patrons, usually the land/house owners. Abdul Aksip, also a businessman and owner of another cosmetics store Urab Brothers proudly proclaims, “I am the owner of the goods in the shop, although the Trade Permit for the shop is in the name of my ‘malik’.”
This tradition of ‘benami’ business in Mokokchung could be the result of the erstwhile Mokokchung Town Committee’s order following a resolution adopted in its meeting held on 3 rd of September, 1990, wherein it was resolved that all Trade Permits held by non-Nagas in Mokokchung town are to be cancelled. The order is still in effect, according to Mokokchung Municipal Council sources, and no Trade Permit has been issued to any migrant businessman since then. “This is a classic example of how an order executed to promote and encourage local entrepreneurs misfired due to some loopholes in the order and because some locals are nonchalant and complacent,” a local businessman on the condition of anonymity observed.
An order in this regard has been issued under the seal and signature of the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Abhishek Singh, on May 29, 2007, which reads, “Mokokchung Municipal Council will ensure that the tendency of benami Trade Permits is restricted. The practice of dummy businessmen running their own businesses with Trade Permit in the name of someone else will be curbed.” The Administrator of Mokokchung Municipal Council and Additional Deputy Comissioner of Mokokchung Z.Nyusietho Nyuthe when asked if this order is being executed replied that no measure as such has been taken as yet, but assured that all possible means will be undertaken to implement the Deputy Commissioner’s order at the earliest.
