Dimapur, May 12 (EMN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has categorically stated that consumers in Nagaland are made to continuously suffer from price rise due to several factors such as extortion at check gates by uniformed personnel and other organisations including the Naga Political groups (NPGs) in addition to levy being made in the name of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The NVCO’s President Kezhokhoto Savi stated this while speaking at the two-day training programme on consumer rights and redress of grievances, organised by the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) on May 8 and the 9th.
According to the NVCO’s media cell Savi pointed to the government’s standing order dated June 22 2009, banning all ‘collection of taxes’ by any organisation or individual including government departments such as police, excise, forest and taxes department etc. It ordered that no collection of cash would be allowed at check-gates or in any part of the highway.
Besides, Gauhati High Court had also passed an order dated 03.06.2014 disallowing organisations/ federations/ unions/ associations to collect cash on the highways.
Savi alleged that despite of these orders, the state government had failed to check illegal collection of taxes and control the prices of goods and services to a reasonable rate. He expressed concern that toll tax collection by the municipal/town councils in the state should be stopped with the introduction of Goods & Services Tax (GST). He stated that the sole purpose and object of toll tax collection is defeated as the tax payers entitled to receive services in return was never done.
Savi stated that complaint against unfair means of measurement especially butchers continues unabated. He has suggested introducing electronic weighing machine with consultation of expert department so as to avoid using of manipulated electronic weighing machine.
Savi has encouraged every consumer to carefully check meat, vegetables, cloths or other food items before buying to ensure freshness, expiry date, labels, information of diets, weights, etc. He went on to state that consumers are still facing shortage of supply in LPG whereas filled LPG cylinders are easily available in black market.
To address the grievances, he has asked all consumers to make use of alternate remedy by calling the state consumer toll free Helpline No. 1800-345-3701 during office hours for queries and counselling of day to day consumer problem. He has asked to approach either the district consumer dispute redressal forum or state consumer dispute redressal commission as the last resort.
Savi further pointed out that appointing party functionaries to the status of cabinet ministers and ministers of state is simply ridiculous and violated the Indian Constitution at the highest level. He stated that the state governor must question such unconstitutional appointment in the state.
“Party workers and others who now does not hold any status in the government being appointed in the rank of commissioner and secretary/ secretary/ joint secretary to the state government and Class 1 Gazetted to be associated with CMO without considering any educational qualifications and others requirement is beyond backdoor appointments,” Savi maintained.
He has advised the people to “wake up” in voicing out undemocratic practices prevailing in the state.
He stated that observance of World Consumer Rights Day on March 5 and the National Consumers Day on December 24 was to create better awareness among the consumers which is still lacking in the Naga society.
