Dimapur, Nov 18 (MExN): In the present climate of structural adjustment, liberalization of economy etc where consumers are in great need of protection and awareness building, citizens of Dimapur were given a wake up call, today, on their rights as consumers. A public rally on consumer rights held under the theme ‘Price control and food safety is the need of the hour’ was jointly organized by the Consumer Society of Dimapur (CSD) and the Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organization (NVCO).
The rise in prices of essential and non-essential commodities in the market which is a continuous trend is rooted in a variety of factors such as illegal collection of tax by different organizations and unions, extortions and black marketing etc chief guest of the rally, KN Ngullie, DC Dimapur explained. Ensuring good health of every citizen through consumption of genuine products being the objective of the government, Ngullie said commodities of daily use should be genuine and authorized by competent authorities. While pointing out that duplication of commodities, rise in prices of essential and non-essential commodities etc has affected the life of the citizens, Ngullie assured that the government and the district administration will work to stop adulteration of food items and other essential and non-essential commodities for durability and sustainability of the products.
Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate, President NVCO, who spoke on ‘price control and food safety is the need of the hour’, said that the consumer rights movement is awakening in Nagaland. He warned that consumers’ societies will not remain a silent spectator to the growing consumer right violations in the state. Dimapur being the commercial hub of Nagaland, Tovihoto Ayemi, Chairman DMC, said that the price of the commodities should be first controlled in Dimapur which subsequently will bring down prices in other parts of Nagaland. While pointing out that Dimapur has almost become a ‘Black Market’, NSF President Pushika Awomi urged the public and consumers to insist for cash memos for every purchased commodity. Pushika also warned the shop-keepers and business man not to take advantage of the consumers.
On the ‘losses’ side, even while the consumer rally busied itself in creating awareness among the citizens to become responsible consumers, business establishments around the Plaza Point suffered heavy losses. Saturday being a business day and with shops shut down at peak business hour for the rally, the business establishments took a hit of loss in term of crores said a businessman.
The business community questioned the authority and organizers as to “who is going to be responsible for the loss suffered due to the closure and who authorized them?” We appreciate and support the consumer rights awareness campaign launched by the NVCO and CSD but ‘it should not be at the cost of the society and it should not have a negative impact on the businesses rued businessmen.
The businessmen expressed resentment that they were not given prior information of the closure of shops. Taking into consideration the many unaddressed problems faced by business establishments in the city, the businessmen felt that they should also have been invited so that their grievances can be highlihted as well and also take positive measures in controlling inflationary commodity prices in coordination with the NVCO and CSD.
The aggrieved business community also, while attributing tax, both legal and illegal tax, as the cause of price rise on commodities, urged the district administration to look into the matter with urgency. It also suggested to the concerned authorities that no such rally should be entertained at all in future.
