Dimapur, June 7 : Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) has urged the State government particularly the district administrations to stop illegal collection of cash in check-gates and highways in their respective jurisdictions as it is one of the major causes for price rise.
NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi, advocate, while addressing a meeting of Price Monitoring Committee at Kohima yesterday said, fund-raise by way of selling lottery ticket, raffle draw, buffet ticket, calendar, concert ticket, moudi, packed cooked meat/vegetable/fruits etc including selling local newspapers by way of donation is common in Kohima which affect the prices and also harassed the citizens.
“No authority is taking any initiative to control this nuisance. However, Angami Youth Organisation(AYO) banning in its jurisdiction in this regard is to be appreciated and to co-operate with it.”
Highlighting the daily grievances of the consumers in buying goods and availing services as already mentioned in the NVCO’s representation, Savi said that several new meat shops are selling pork at the rate of Rs.250 and Rs.240 per kg which is much higher than being fixed by the govt/KMC to the tune of Rs.60 to Rs.70 higher per kg as govt/KMC rate is Rs.180 per kg. He said, consumers have so much complaint against the butchers for shortage of measurement citing that the consumers never get accurate weight though they were charged in full.
Savi said that the NVCO cannot tolerate huge excessive charges in certain essential commodities citing an example that the public/consumers had burn more than 100 DTC buses in Delhi for raising bus fare from 50 paise to Rs.1 and from Rs.1 to Rs.2.
“What are the public/consumers doing when few business community charges more than 1/3 (excessive) of govt/KMC rate and that also without any permission? What is the reaction of the district administration and Kohima Municipal Council? Actually most of the meat selling in the market may not fit for consumption and there is no mechanism to ascertain the fitness and we cannot determine only on the basis of infrastructure as no shop is selling meat check by veterinary doctors.” Savi said, the problem can be solved only when there is a proper slaughter house.
“And here the state government is already facing the pressure from central government in compliance with laws intended to prevent cruelty to animals in slaughter houses.”
He also said that removing the original/company printed price on motor parts, student’s text book/exercises book and replacing with another price tab which is much higher than the MRP is illegal and also amounting to exploitation of consumer rights as per the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Price Monitoring includes transportation charges and daily wages for skilled or unskilled including motor workshop where charges are to be properly regulated in a reasonable manner and consumer-friendly. Savi stressed the urgent need to implement the transportation/carriage charges depending on types of vehicles and distance.
