Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 15
The obvious answer was already ‘yes’ when readers began voting whether so-called “tax” is hindering development of the state and her people who are already barely surviving. The response reflected the depth the culture of “taxation” in Nagaland had sunken to – a huge 77% resonantly agreed that rampant extortion by various organizations was hindering the pace of development in the state.
77% of respondents agreed to The Morung Express poll question “Is rampant collection of tax hindering the pace of development Nagaland?” while an almost inconsequential 6% claimed “no” and the rest, 16%, chose to stay moderate.
A reader summed up the 77% of the comments received for the poll. The reader reflected common sentiments of most Nagas today that the so-called “taxation” in the state is not only stunting the Naga people and state from developing; it is also alienating the Naga citizen from the Naga “political” groups.
The reader stated: “Let us be honest this tax collection is really alienating the Naga underground factions from the people. No one is questioning the legitimacy of the Naga freedom movement. But today because of rampant tax collection, people are getting frustrated and angry. Majority of the Naga public are barely surviving, they are just meeting needs end. But they are also the ones who are taxed the most. Young Naga entrepreneurs are not able to develop because they are burdened with tax. Also most of the underground groups do not have an organized tax collection system. So much of the money collected is being eaten up at the lower level. Something needs to be done immediately.”
Another reader asked: “What if we get sovereignty sans economic and social security?” The readers agreed that extortion impacts price rise and the public are the ones who have to pay higher for even their most basic commodities as one reader commented: the so-called “taxation” in Nagaland is so rampant one has to pay from “tax” from “needle to the air we breathe” and undoubtedly a hindrance to development.
“That's the reason why we don't get investments from big multinational companies and the employment and development associated with it. Who will like to invest and start a business venture when they have to cope with demands and taxes from various so called national workers (always increasing in number too!)”
Another citizen also wondered “what the so called 'national workers' do with our hard earned money..... Will like to challenge them to show to the public what they have done with the money collected, apart from funding their opulent lifestyles. Can they give us a yearly report on what achievements or development they have done for the Nagas, apart from buying bullets and guns to kill his fellow Naga brothers?”
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
“Not necessarily. Tax has become a way of life for Nagas. In the past Nagas used to donate tax to the NNC and likewise to the many groups now. The problem is there are just too many factions and this is why people are getting tired of paying too much tax to too many factions. The truth however is if Nagas are to become an entity, the people have to pay tax. All other states are paying tax to the government. In countries like the US the citizens are paying close to 60% as tax. But the government in return is doing a lot of things for the people.”
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
“The rampant collection of tax is a result of the ongoing political imbroglio. Just trying to get rid of rampant illegal tax collection will not solve the problem because it will rear its ugly head in one form or the other. The solution actually lies in solving the political problem.”
“Is Nagaland even developing? That's news.”
Comments and responses to the poll can be viewed on www.morungexpress.com
