Dimapur, July 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has opposed the order issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur for permitting Naga Council, Dimapur to collect taxation as “Naga Commission”. The Organisation has questioned the integrity of the officials/ leaders of Naga Council, Dimapur in their interest of taxation in a form of "Naga Commission" which is illegal and a serious threat to all citizens/consumers of Nagaland.
A note issued by the President of NVCO stated that the Friends Inter-Trusteeship Alliance (FITA) with the NVCO organised a one-day seminar on “Consumer Rights” on July 24 at Jalukie Town Hall, Peren district. The second edition of NVCO booklet sponsored by the Government of Nagaland was distributed during the seminar.
The NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi was the resourced person at the seminar and stated that NVCO cannot tolerate the Naga Commission permit. He added that NVCO represents the consumers in the State and strongly oppose the act of ADC, while the organisation is in full swing fighting against the illegal collection of cash on highways and check gates.
The organisation also supports the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce (DCC) in its strong resentment against the order.
Moreover, the NVCO has questioned the District Administration of Dimapur that under what "authority / law the order was issued" and permitted the Naga Council of Dimapur an NGO to collect building materials, timbers, perishable goods – food items etc.
“Was it the previous sanction of law given by the Government? If not that it is illegal and incase the State Government sanctioned such commission then the State Government is to be blamed as such action is a serious threat to the society/consumers,” the note stated.
Supporting its stand, the Organisation stated that this is not the first time the District Administration has committed a "blunder and therefore the State Government must interfere" so that it may not commit such blunder again.
The note also mentioned that earlier the Naga Council, Dimapur was very strong in fighting against illegal collection of cash in the check-gates, highways and bye-lanes especially in Dimapur but “now the integrity is a big question as the council is seriously interested in availing the ‘Commission’, which the Council is not entitled” and it is wrong for a “civil society to collect taxes or commission”. Rather the NVCO expects the Naga Council Dimapur to question the MLAs and Ministers in taking commission out of public funds in the process of awarding the contract to the contractors, which is illegal.
Meanwhile, the NVCO team consists of the VIth Semester LLB Students of Kohima Law College. The students also presented short talks on topics such as the Village Council Act, the Model Rules of VDB, Climate Change, Sanitation, Child’s & Women rights, Global Warming, Right to Food, National Rural Health Mission, Legal Services Authority, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Central Schemes such as AAY, Annapurna, Mid-day meals, National Old Age Pension as part of legal awareness.
Again on July 26, 2010, the law students with NVCO will be conducting legal awareness programme at Jakhama Panchayal Hall, Jakhama Village, the press note stated.
