The state of Nagaland observed the National Road Safety Week scheduled from 4th to 10th January, 2006 with the rest of the states in the country.
During the observance of the NRSW, it was found that the roads were found not free from accidents and at the same time the roads specially National Highway-39 between Dimapur and Kohima were not free from illegal collection of tax by the Associations such as local transportation Association and Government of Nagaland agencies such as Forest department, Taxation department, Municipal Council, Town Council, Nagaland Police etc, at the main gates and check gates.
The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organization (NVCO) has been coming across several verbal complaints from public about several group and governmental agencies involving in collection of tax on trucks both carrier trucks and empty trucks on all the main gates and check gates on National Highways and bye-lanes. Earlier, the NVCO had strongly condemned the illegal collection of tax by several registered and unregistered Unions and Associations at new Field Check Gate, Dimapur.
The NVCO had decided to take up the issue of illegal collection of tax in the state as one of its main agenda for the year 2006 and in view of this agenda, I, the President of NVCO, Kezhokhoto Savi had gone down to Dimapur on the 4th of January, 2006 ie: the first day of National Road Safety Week and returned to Kohima, traveled upto Jakhama Village in a truck loaded with sand on the same day. The return journey was interesting with so much quarrelling and exchange of loud voices in all the check gates and though it was a tough job I am happy at least I had fought against illegal collection of tax personally without any reservation and fear in all the pay counters on NH-39, and the argument was picked up on all the check gates for insisting receipt as most of the counter does not have any receipts, especially Nagaland Police.
After introducing myself as a consumer activist and President of NVCO, I was recognized to a small extend and was given an option not to pay but again the option given to them by me was if they don’t charge me then they cannot charge from any other carrier trucks and vehicles without permission from the state government and the response was silent, for which I had to pay in all the counters both with and without receipts such as;
Chumukedima Check Gate:
I. Local Transportation Association - Rs. 100/-
II. Forest department - Rs. 130/-
III. Nagaland Police - Rs. 40/- (without receipt)
IV. Chumukedima Town Council - Rs. 30/- Sechu, Zubza, Kohima:
1. Govt. of Nagaland Taxation dpt
Check Post, Sechu - Rs. 50/- (without receipt)
Bye-Pass Check gate, Kohima:
1. Forest Check gate Bye pass - Rs. 50/-
2. Kohima Municipal council - Rs. 50/-
3. Nagaland Police - Rs. 40/- (without receipts)
Phesama Check gate, Kohima:
1. Nagaland police check gate - Rs. 20/- (demanded Rs. 50/- without receipt)
2. It was learnt from the driver that Khuzama Police Check Gate (Nagaland Police) use to charge not less than Rs. 100/- for carrier truck and even empty trucks are to pay not less than Rs. 10/- in order to cross the gate.
While continuing my return journey, I reflected upon the way I interacted with the people who are indulging in illegal collection of tax which is also leading to the spiraling rise in prices of essential commodities and goods in the state much higher than the price it would normally have. In the process of payment at Chumukedima Check gate, the Forest department counter asked Rs. 50/- and when I insisted on the receipt, they gave me an option either to pay Rs. 50/- without receipt or pay Rs. 130/- with receipt. I question the Tax Collectors Association as no association in the state is allowed to collect any from National Highways. The Nagaland Police could not produce any answer for the charge of Rs.10/- per truck carrier, the taxation department Check Post at Sechu failed to reply for why they are collecting Rs.50/- to Rs.100/- per vehicle carrier of essential commodities and goods and while insisting on receipt they said that they don’t know anything about receipt and they simply collect whichever vehicle pays them. As I picked up argument, one of the staffs came to me and said it was okay and that they would not take my money, but I refused to take it back.
Well this was my journey experience and the NVCO will soon take up this issue as a very serious issue with the state government and fight till the illegal collection of tax in the state is put to an end.
Kezhokhoto Savi
President NVCO
