Our Correspondent
Mon | July 12
In a meeting held on July 11, at the Konyak Baptist Church of Mon (KBCM) over the Nagaland Prohibition Act 1989, the Konyak society has decided unanimously to oppose any move at lifting the Prohibition. Organized by the Konyak Baptist Churches’ Organization (KBBB) the meeting sought to gather public opinion on the Prohibition Act Amendment Committee’s proposal to do away with the Act. It was also resolved to appeal to the government of Nagaland to stand firm and strengthen the NLTP Act 1989. The resolution declared that the Konyak would continue to protest any anti-prohibition move either by the government or civil society organizations.
Speaking at the meeting, President of the Konyak women organization (KNSK), Yumah Konyak, highlighted the genesis of the Prohibition Act which began with the Konyak people with the declaring of Mon district as a dry district in 1988. She said that the Konyak and others had taken the step because of three reasons, i.e. mushrooming illegal activities such subletting alcohol to houses, hotels etc., by wine store license holders, bunking of classes by school and college students to gather in booze joints and the daily street fights. While admitting that the prohibition may not be 100% affective, the KNSK president claimed that bunking classes had stopped, street fights had been reduced and health problems from drinking had come down.
Referring to claims of loss in revenue, Yumah questioned the government whether selling liquor was the only means of earning revenue for Nagaland. She demanded to know what the value of the loss of Naga lives, Naga properties and ‘cost of hospitalization’, was. “Who can calculate in cash the value of Naga mothers’ and daughters’ tears ?”, she queried.
The president of the apex Konyak women organization strongly declared that the KNSK would not stand for the lifting of prohibition adding that even if the rest of Nagaland should lift the bann, Mon district would not be moved to lift the ban.
President Of Konyak Union, Khoiwang Konyak also echoed similar sentiments in which he said that there was no need to discuss trivial things like revenue because the Konyak would strongly oppose any move to lift the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act. He backed the KNSK’s stand to staunchly continue implementation of the prohibition in Mon district even if the rest of Nagaland should happen to lift the Act. The KU president justified it by saying that that even the opium “Mohan” or outlets, introduced during the British period had been shut down due to the social evils it generated so too the Konayk would ban liquor in its land, he said.
With regards to the loss of revenue cited by the Government, ENPO Vice president, Yonglong Konyak opined that utilization of available resources was just as important as earning revenue. He said that if the government was so concerned about it, they should cut down on the enormous expenditure wasted on numerous facilities like VIP escorts, vehicles etc which was enjoyed by mere MLAs and Parliamentary Secretaries in Nagaland unlike the other states in India.
All other speakers like the GB Longpheang Konyak, Vice President of Konyak Students’ Union, Wangpai, KBCM Pastor Nahngom, Deacon Kamzai etc wholeheartedly endorsed the aforementioned speakers and resolved to oppose any move for lifting of prohibition. The meeting was attended by several Konyak public leaders, government officers, Konyak woman organization (KNSK), Konyak Union (KU), Konyak Students’ Union (KSU), GB Union and church leaders.
