Illegal tax still continuing: Cong

Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 13

Opposition Congress today said illegal tax is still continuing in the state and urged the government to look into the matter seriously. Participating in the discussion and voting on the demands for grants for the year 2009-10 in the floor of the House, Congress MLA Tokheho said that extortion must be stopped and government must look into the matter seriously. Congress MLA I Imkong also said the menace of extortion be brought to halt in Nagaland.

Terming illegal taxation on National Highway, businessmen, government servants as ‘unfortunate’, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the government is aware of the situation, adding that the government is not sleeping on the matter. MLA K L Chishi continued to target the government for not being able to own Nagaland Police Manual, even though the state attains 46th years of statehood. He strongly demanded that it should be laid in the next assembly session.

Rio said that the government was taking study on that matter and assured the House that the government would try its best to furnish and lay the same in the next session.

Congress also charged the government for not printing the annual administrative report by various departments in the Government Printing Press, in which Chief Minister said that many departments had gone to private firms for printing of government documents for want of better quality and good printing.

MLA Sentichuba said that security be provided to SIT who are dealing with bogus appointment. K L Chishi said that many teachers have been attached to DIS office, adding that the duty of teachers is to teach, and called for discontinuation of such practice.

Call for better health care system
Opposition Congress today called for better health care system in the state and reshaping of the hospitals. Participating in the discussion and voting on the demands for grants for the year 2009-10 in the floor of the House, MLA K L  Chishi said that so many hospitals, sub centers are ill equipped, adding that proper life saving drugs must be provided in the hospitals and also to improve X-Ray and Ultrasound facilities, Stating that the department of health and family welfare needs constant power supply, he stressed on the need to build proper coordination between the power and medical department so that hospitals/health centres are not affected by power failure. MLA H  Chuba also suggested that Mobile Hospitals be initiated in the interior areas of the state and also make medicine accessible in the hospitals.

Replying to the opposition bench, Chief Minister Rio said that over the years, a lot of progress has emerged in the medical department. Recalling his recent meeting with union minister for health Ghulam Nabi Azad where the latter assured the state for appointment of doctors to the remotest areas and infrastructural development for the health centres, Rio invited local doctors at Rs. 25,000 per month who are willing to serve in the interior areas. He assured to give better health care to all citizens of the state.