NEAN observes 1st NLTP Day
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 29
“Sometimes NGOs act like Excise Department in our state and it is not permitted by law,” said Imti Imsong, President of Dimapur Bar Association referring to raids conducted by various public organizations, associations, unions, etc., at shops and joints suspected to be dealing in illegal businesses especially IMFL.
Speaking during a programme to commemorate the 32nd Anniversary of the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, on March 29, Imsong also pointed out that unlike the liquor prohibition law in Mizoram where civil society organizations and public have been authorized to enforce prohibition, it is not the same in Nagaland where only the Excise personnel have been authorized to enforce prohibition and the public can only assist the law enforcing agencies.
He also queried if the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition (NLTP) Act in Nagaland is strictly implemented and whether citizens are serious about it in realizing what they ought to do and not to do.
The programme, christened as ‘NLTP Day’ was conducted in collaboration with Naga Women Hoho Dimapur and the North East Artist Network (NEAN) at Don Bosco IDL Hall, Dimapur under the theme, ‘Understanding & Empowering Alcoholic Community.’
In his opening remarks, Chief Functionary, NEAN, Toshiba Jamir said that the day was observed to create general awareness and understanding about the Act, to provide a platform to the communities to share their stories, to encourage and motivate the alcoholics to stay away from the habit and to improve the overall quality of life of the alcoholic community. He said the day was important as it was on this day in 1989 that the NLTP Act was passed in the state assembly.
“Ever since NLTP Act was introduced in the year 1989, its enforcement for the last thirty one years has only been partially successful,” he added. Toshiba further maintained that the Act has neither been observed in toto nor has it been able to control the flow of liquor in the state. He remarked that on the contrary, there has been a rise in availability of illicit liquor, brewed and bottled spuriously by bootleggers making a tidy profit by flooding the state and making it available in every nook and corner of the state.
Toshiba called for a total review on whether the Act has been effective in controlling liquor related health issues and other social problems associated with alcoholism in the last three decades since it was enacted.
“The ever increasing number of alcoholism victims in the state is indicative of the low level of awareness and understanding of NLTP Act by the masses of the state. Above all, the inflow of spurious liquor illegally in the state is posing a grave concern and endangering so many precious lives,” Toshiba added.
He said the scenario is the state could be more alarming and dangerous than what it appeared to be since most of the liquor smuggled by the bootleggers are highly adulterated and in most cases unfit for human consumption, resulting in many alcoholics in Nagaland dying at much below the average life expectancy of an alcoholic. Toshiba revealed that NEAN’s case study showed that many of the alcoholics were unaware about the NLTP Act and resultantly not aware of Nagaland being a dry state.
In this connection, Toshiba said, the NEAN has been conducting case studies among the alcoholic community to create wider awareness.
Also speaking on the occasion, Dimapur Additional Commissioner of Excise Kevisetuo Angami said that the responsibility of the Excise was limited only to search, seizure and arrest and with a handful of manpower they were enforcing the law. He said that the duty of the Excise is to check the supply but cannot stop the demand for liquor and called for public participation in curbing the problem.
Others who spoke during the programme included Senior Specialist, District Hospital Dimapur, Dr C Kezo; Representative of Dimapur Christian Forum, Rev Moses Murry and EAC Dimapur Nukshi Matong.
