[dropcap]A[/dropcap]CAUT was formed under the banner of Naga Council after much hue and cry from the business community, consumers and public alike due to unabated multiple taxation and the ever increasing price rise which was causing untold misery on the common man. Adding to woes the system of syndicate system, dealership and monopoly practiced by the National workers conniving with non locals not only contributed to price rise but many Nagas were forced to closed to down their business on the other hand Nagas who wished to start business were intimated with threat and were not allowed to start business. The hardship was brought to the notice of Naga Council by different NGOs and Business community.The Naga Council, being the apex body of all the organization in Dimapur urban area took serious note of the hardship of the citizens and business community decided have an emergency public meeting of Dimapur-based civil society, business community, student and youth organisations, most notably Naga Council Dimapur, the umbrella organization of all the Naga tribes in Dimapur, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI), East Dimapur Business Association (EDBA), Chumukedima Chamber of Industries & Trade Association (CCITA), DNSU, Youth Association of Nagaland (YAN), GBs Union (Sadar), Dimapur Urban Colony Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCCF), Dimapur District Consumer Society (DDCS) & Senior Citizen’s Forum was held under the aegis of Naga Council on 27th May, 2013 to form Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) in consultation of all the tribal bodies, business organization under its jurisdiction and ACAUT was formed on 27th May 2013. Multiple taxation and illegal collection starts right from the entry gates where different Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and government agencies charge exorbitant rates in the form of yearly tax on vehicle tax, transport tax, and goods entry tax on every item including essential commodities. Adding to taxation woes at check gates, every item was again taxed at different levels as godown tax, shop tax, yearly tax, shop registration tax, non local employees ID card tax etc., by all the different NPGs. To make matters worse, the NPGs started the system of ‘dealership’ in almost all the commodities whereby only a small coterie of businessmen were allowed to deal in these commodities. These businessmen were given dealerships in lieu of payment of certain fees to the NPGs. In return, the dealers were protected by the NPGs to run their businesses. The dealership system is a system of monopoly whereby the concept of free enterprise is curbed and prices of commodities are monopolized by the dealers thereby leading to price rise. It is the stand of ACAUT that no products/produce in the market should be under the grip of illegal syndicate/s which has come up as a result of the dealership system. Any market should be free and fair providing level playing field for all enterprises and any business ventures but the presence of syndicates’ means pricing is being monopolized curtailing business growth and livelihood of families destroyed and setting up of new businesses were not allowed with threat and intimidation. Due to above mentioned reasons the business community was forced to retail their products above the prevailing market price on essential commodities and above the prescribed Maximum Retail Price (MRP) to make profit which is not only illegal but intolerable.
The business community of Dimapur highlighted the above mentioned problems being faced by the consumers and business community. On the strength of this public meeting, a committee was formed comprising of two members each-6 members from Naga Council - from all the aforementioned organisations with its nomenclature as Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) to pursue the taxation/illegal collections issue.
ACAUT resolved that one tax would be paid to all the different NPGs. The basis of such a resolution was an acknowledgement that the Naga national movement was legitimate. However, ACAUT soon realized that such a stand was contrary to unity and reconciliation since in essence the ACAUT was legitimizing factionalism in the movement. Nevertheless, the ACAUT being a people’s initiative and pursuing an agenda through dialogue and peaceful means decided to approach some of the NPGs and diligently explained the grievances being faced by consumers, business community and the Naga public. Unfortunately, not much could come to fruition.
ACAUT also realized that price rise in the market was a result of illegal collections by government departments such as, police, forest, excise, veterinary, transport or MVI, taxes, traffic police and civic bodies like DMC, etc. The ACAUT carried out investigations especially at the check gates and found out that all the mentioned government departments and civic bodies were indulging in illegal collections from every vehicle carrying commodities into the state. The ACAUT amply highlighted all these illegal activities in the media and the government was made aware of such through memorandums submitted to it.
The ACAUT met the CM on 30th August 2013 and submitted a memorandum to him requesting him to take immediate and remedial measures. Thereafter, representations were made to the Chief Secretary, the Home Minister and the Home Commissioner subsequently, apprising them of the need to take strong steps. The government was made to understand that ACAUT was formed as a result of overwhelming public demand and issues being raised by it were only in public interest. However, for reasons best known to the government, it refused to take action on the issues raised by the ACAUT.
In the light of the above, the nonchalant attitude of both the NPGs and the government, the ACAUT decided to take the issue to the Naga people and on 31st Oct 2013 a mammoth public rally was held to solicit public opinion, create awareness and garner support for the ACAUT movement. The turnout of 40,000 (Forty thousand) people representing all walks of life but united by a common purpose not only gave legitimate mandate to the ACAUT movement but it provided a platform for the people to ventilate the general desperation and at the same time censure the existing corrupt system which is nothing but robbery at the cost of the common man.
Naga public resolution of 31st oct 2013 rally
1.The Naga public recognizes “One Government One Taxation” only and the Naga public has decided to pay only one tax to one entity. This also means that as long as factionalism exists, the Naga public shall not pay tax.
2.The Naga public re-affirms its support for Naga movement and strongly urges the Government of India to settle the Indo-Naga imbroglio at the earliest.
3.The Government of Nagaland should constitute a high powered commission within 15 days to study the whole gamut of unabated taxations and illegal collections involving the NPGs and government agencies/departments. The commission shall consist of at least 5 (five) members headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court with at least 2 members from the ACAUT. The commission should submit its report within 2 months with its findings published in all the newspapers. In the event, the government fails to constitute the commission within the said period; the ACAUT will initiate further action in consultation with public.
However, till date the government has not formed the HPC as per the desire of the Naga people. Nevertheless, ACAUT would like to remind one and all that the demand for setting up HPC is our outmost priority and on this occasion ACAUT would like to appeal and remind Government of Nagaland to set up HPC at the earliest before the movement takes the issue to the street.
In the meantime, to make the ACAUT movement more inclusive, the Naga Council on 8th Feb 2014 resolved to drop the term “under the aegis of Naga Council,” thereby facilitating the strengthening of the ACAUT Movement by possibly allowing for every organisation in the state to support or even join the Movement. Thereafter, ACAUT changed its nomenclature from Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation to Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation Nagaland in order to tackle the problem of corruption plaguing the state more effectively.
ACAUT has also embarked on a state wide tour and has reached out to the people and NGos of Mon, Longleng, Tuensang , Mokokchung and Tsiminyu in its first phase of its awareness tour and in its second phase have reach out Meluri, Phutsuro, Phek, Kiphiri and Zunheboto and plans to reach out to the districts of Peren and Kohima in our third phase.
Today, as we reach our first anniversary of ACAUT formation, ACAUT request Churches, NGOS, Business Organizations and Public of Nagaland to continuously support our movement in your prayer and physical support, as ACAUT has embarked on a journey to fight corruption by the government agencies and unabated taxations by NPGs and the state Government in Nagaland which concerns every Naga and our future generation at the same time demanding the government of India to resolve the Naga political issue at the earliest.
Kuknalim.
Media Cell ACAUT 26/5/14
