Hundred of tones of government machineries, Church leaders, public leaders and concern layman opined their views about pros and cons of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act 1989 and subsequent pouring through local media. Even our highest state government decision pulpit (Assembly) had a brain storming debate over this issue.
Many concern writers had shared their views over the positive and negative of the Act. However, are the write ups making any impacts to the concern authority? By the way, whom shall I regard or refer as the concern authority. Who is the responsible authority to implement this Act? Why is this concern authority not able to implement this Act successfully? Is there shortage of manpower in this concern authority? Is there shortage of monetary fund for this concern authority?
As a layman, I wonder, to smuggle this so called banned consignment, one need to cross how many check post to enter Nagaland and after coming to Nagaland how many such odd check post to enter the districts. I also wonder how they conceal the consignment before the eye of the personnel manning the check post. Excuse for this lines, but to my biggest amazement was, do the bootleggers barter or negotiate something with the personnel manning the check post? Or are some elements such as some hot shot baron involved in this to pass the check gate? Or is some gun barrel making easy passage for this consignment to Nagaland? Or is there any by-pass road which this concern authority is not aware of? Else, how can a truck load of consignment easily penetrate to our state?
Maybe, who knows if I know all these answers, I may be another bootlegger (rich and may or may not be famous) in the society. Excuse me the Churches, who knows we may never ruled out these rich and respected maybe very honest in dispatching his or her ten tithes in the Church. Maybe in some ways these so called rich and may or may not be famous bootleggers is making revenue for the Churches. However, it is upto God to judge but we as human cannot. But if this kind of business is illegal and against the preaching of Christ, than the Churches has no comment over these members? Of course, these so called rich and may or may not be famous Naga bootleggers must be a Christian and a member of certain Churches.
The most amazing was how this small booze joint in every nook and corner of the town, colonies and villages running successfully without any hindrance from the so called concern authority. Maybe on some occasion, they must be contributing something to some so called elements but this Act was enforcing by the state government. And as far as my knowledge is concern, the NBCC has pressure the state government to come up with the bill, however, it is the duty bond of the government to implement and enforce the Act. So failure and success of this Act depend upon the government agencies. It is well known that the NBCC cannot effort to come up with some new department to dispatch its volunteer round the clock to check these activities.
Many believe that, even a single or duo well trusted personnel are more than sufficient to handle well a check post. No, doubt, it is open secret that it is like a casino for any personnel to be posted to these so called check post and it is also said that to be posted in check post is like once in life time.
I don’t want to guess why many writers in their write ups have been supporting of lifting this Act. Many have said the government is losing its revenue. But can we forget about individual revenue when a person becomes alcoholic? Will the government provides any scheme for any such treatment or gives any kind of ex-Gratia to its next kith and kin from the revenue earned?
I think it is high time; we should talk debate upon something positive over this Act. We should be proud Nagas as we have brought this Act in our land. Now we have to pressurize and give a helping hand to the government to enforce this Act successfully. Imagine in Nagaland there will be less fights, less divorcee cases, minimize HIV/AIDS ratio, less road accident, handful thieves, less patients in hospital, drastic changes of early widower cases and minimizes uncounted other illegal activities.
I am sure one day we will not regret but proud if we in unison support this Act and implement it as a true abiding citizens.
Atou Liezietsu, Kohima
