Dimapur, June 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) on Thursday questioned Nagaland Chief Secretary and DGP’s response to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that “all possible efforts have been made to curb the illegal activities of insurgents in the state,” considering the hardships faced by several trade bodies.
It said that, acting on a petition filed by a noted human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC had passed an order directing the Chief Secretary Nagaland to ensure basic human rights in the State. The petition alleged non-availability of basic amenities and that villages had livelihood problems while social schemes were not being implemented properly. The petition further alleged that people of Nagaland have to pay taxes to the parallel government run by “five insurgent groups” apart from paying the government taxes. It also pointed out the unchecked extortion on commercial vehicles along Highways and check-gates in Nagaland.
“After NHRC intervention, the Chief Secretary and DGP Nagaland informed that all possible efforts have been made to curb the illegal activities of insurgents in the state,” the NVCO stated. Subsequently, several trade bodies came out strongly with a demand that all Naga political groups (NPGs) should immediately refrain from multiple taxation and asked the State government to immediately check all such multiple taxation in the State, it stated.
While noting that the Nagaland government is yet to establish ‘State Human Right Commission’ in Nagaland which is mandatory as per the provision provided by the Constitution of India, the NVCO also questioned how far the information given to NHRC by the Chief Secretary and DGP Nagaland is being put into practice when several trade bodies are still demanding to check illegal activities in the State.
The Organization stated that every year the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG) places before the Nagaland Legislative Assembly reports involving huge crores of money being misappropriated by the State departments, unverifiable works, doubtful execution of projects, fraudulent withdrawals etc.
Besides CAG report, the NVCO also said that there is also a high rate of corruption which affects infrastructural development in the State. “On several occasions trucks refuse to enter Nagaland due to numerous illegal collections of tax counters where truck drivers were stopped and forced to pay money,” it alleged.
The NVCO stated that unauthorized taxation is contributing to the price rise in the State markets, especially of the essential commodities. It further maintained that the mushrooming of illegal collections by all and sundry, including police and government agencies had contributed to price rise in the State.
The NVCO reiterated the Gauhati High Court order issued on June 3, 2014 to stop all illegal cash collections at check gates and highways, and also the June 22, 2009 order where the State government decided that henceforth no collection of taxes shall be made by any organization or individuals including government department such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes department, etc.
Asserting that it cannot remain a ‘silent spectator’ to the illegal and unauthorized taxation which is contributing to the price rise in the State markets, especially of the essential commodities, NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi said, “Social Justice is the need of the hour.”
