DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 22 (MExN): Small business owners of the daily bazaar at Supermarket, Dimapur are abstaining from opening shop beginning October 21 last. The reason put forth was excessive ‘taxation’ imposed on them by various ‘organisations’.
The shopkeepers comprised of ‘non Nagas’, usually man around 400 stalls at the bazaar selling vegetables, fish, poultry, spices and even clothing.
Huddled up at the supermarket today with worried faces, the ‘striking’ shopkeepers vent out their reasons to local media persons, albeit in hushed tones. They said every stall-owner have to shell out a minimum of Rs. 30 and a maximum of Rs. 80, on daily basis as ‘tax’ to three different ‘organisations’.
For poultry sellers and fish-mongers it is Rs. 30 each to the GPRN/NSCN and the FGN, and Rs. 20 to the NSCN-IM. The rest of the vendors have to shell out Rs. 10 each to the said three ‘organisations’, said one poultry seller, all daily.
“In addition, there is also talk of the ‘NNC’ imposing similar ‘tax’ on us”, said another.
Earlier they were paying only the two ‘NSCNs’ but now the FGN has started and it would not be long before the NNC does the same, they said.
They though stated that it was fine so long as they were paying, only to the two ‘NSCNs’ but the entry of the ‘FGN’ has become overbearing, for small time businessmen like them.
They said that they are ready to pay the ‘tax’ so long as it is lessened or scaled down.
They further said they are paying daily tax to the DMC and to the GBs union weekly, but added those are justifiable and they have no problems whatsoever.
Other stalls manned by Nagas at the same market do not pay the additional ‘tax’, they stated.
The stall owners sought redress to their dilemma while asserting they will be compelled to continue closing business until their problem is addressed.
