Cash-search ban order: NVCO ridicules govt’s self-administered kick

EMN Dimapur, September 28 The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) has denounced the Home department for granting permission to the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) to sale raffle tickets “in aid of ANCSU 17th biennial conference.” The NVCO issued a press release on Monday referring to the government’s endless only-on-paper “orders” banning raising money from the public either by force or charity-canvassing. “Very often time the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization has been raising strong objection against the illegal collection of cash at the check-gates and on highways and also several unions/association/churches in their conduct of fund raises by way of selling lottery tickets, raffle tickets, calendar, donation voucher, moudi, buffet, home delivery packed cook meat, etc., and the organization has been asking the state government to ban all these activities…” the NVCO stated. “However, despite of raising all these objections the State Government has seriously hurt the organization by issuing an order NO.GAB/GEN/7/26/97 Vol II dated 24th Oct’ 2015 granting the permission to All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) to sale raffle draw tickets in Aid of ANCSU 17th biennial conference,” the organization stated. The Home department “must have done it mischievously as the said order was signed against the date 24th Oct’ 2015 which is yet to come,” the NVCO observed. The said order were appended by Neihu C Thur, Home Commissioner, and dated October 24 and signed by Bendangkokba, secretary to the government of Nagaland, the press release stated. “What is wrong with the Home department? It is correct that such an important department could issue orders with advanced date? If not then immediately cancelled the said order. Don’t play with public office. The NVCO asked the Home Commissioner, Nagaland to immediately cancel the said order for the interest of public,” the press release stated. Earlier, the NVCO has submitted a representation to the governor of Nagaland, and the chief Secretary of Nagaland and “almost all the deputy commissioners of Nagaland during their conduct of consumer awareness campaign in the district headquarter with a sincere prayer to effectively implement the government standing orders in banning cash collection in the check-gates and on any highways…” The Gauhati High Court had also disallowed several organizations from collecting cash on highways and market places. “However, the state government has not taken any actions in respect of NVCO’s representation,” the NVCO stated. The NVCO iterated as “illegal” the “collection of cash” upon commercial vehicles on highways by myriad organizations including government departments. The government groups included Nagaland police at the check-gates and “one of the main factors that cause to price-rise in the market especially essential commodities and building materials.” Likewise, the Petroleum & Land Transport Workers’ Federation of India was registered with the government of Assam under the Trade Union Act and its area of operation was stated to be entire north east India including Nagaland. They have pay-counters in the guise of so-called “information centre” in Dimapur and Kohima. They continually engage in ‘illegal collection of cash,’ the NVCO said. Recently, the NVCO had released a booklet, a compilation of newspaper clippings, government orders banning extortion at check-gates and on any highways, and High Court judgments and others. The booklet is for free distribution and also to give to commercial vehicles as to show relevant orders and judgments not to pay any cash at check-gates or highways.