Now Dimapur businesses threaten business shutdown over ULB representation

DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on Saturday announced that it will resort to an indefinite voluntary shutter down of businesses in Dimapur if the government fails to act upon its assurance on the issue of nominee representation in the urban local bodies (ULBs).

The possibility of a shutdown was deliberated, along with other issues affecting the business community, during a meeting of the DCCI on Saturday, the DCCI stated in a press release.

“The demand of the business community for nominee representation in the urban local bodies goes way back before the recent ULB elections—in 2021 to the Home department (Political Branch), the chief secretary in 2023 and also to the advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs in 2024.

Clock Tower area in Dimapur (Representational Image)

“Hence, this is not a recent development but a long-pending issue with the state government, which was agreed upon along with other demands as well,” the DCCI said.

Also read: Phek trade body warns of indefinite shutdown

Wokha District Chamber of Commerce threatens business shutdown over ULB nomination dispute

• It also mentioned that in the latest meeting between the government officials and the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) on April 23 in Kohima, the government had sought two weeks to address the issue.
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• And based on mutual trust and the larger interest in dialogue, the CNCCI and district chambers of commerce decided to keep the proposed indefinite voluntary shutter down—originally scheduled for the 24th of April—in abeyance for a period of two weeks.

Related: Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds off on shutdown for two weeks

• “However, if the government fails to act upon its assurance within the stipulated timeline, then the DCCI will be left with no other options but to resort to an indefinite voluntary shutter down of businesses in Dimapur,” it stated.
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• The DCCI also questioned why the state government is giving Dimapur a “stepmotherly treatment” despite it being the commercial hub of Nagaland and the largest revenue generator.
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• Highlighting problems faced by the business community in Dimapur and other districts, the DCCI also underscored the need for nominee representation to address such problems in the interest of the business community and the public at large.
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• According to the trade body, nominee representation can address crucial issues, including trade licence fee escalation without understanding the nature of business and volumes, sanitation fees and the imposition of a "variety of fees despite getting a trade licence, which is illogical.”
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• It will also check the imposition of a lease on items like mineral water, potatoes, tomatoes, dry fish, etc., and the accompanying price rise which affects consumers and directly impacts the livelihoods of local farmers and businesses of Naga entrepreneurs.
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• The DCCI further maintained that representation of the business community in the ULBs can curb activities such as selling items by ULBs like Christmas stars, dustbins and fire extinguishers.
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• “The role of the ULBs is to govern locally and regulate and not become business enterprises,” it asserted.
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• “The public also needs to understand why the business community’s representation in the ULBs is not only in the interest of the business community but also for safeguarding the interests of consumers, as every individual is a consumer at the end of the day,” it added.