Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Nov. 5: A consumer organisation has asked the government of Nagaland to set up the Lokayukta without delay.
The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) observed Vigilance Awareness week during Oct 29-Nov 3. The occasion was observed with the theme, ‘Eradicate Corruption, build a New India,’ during which the group submitted a representation to the state’s Chief Secretary R Binchilo Thong requesting him to set up the anti-corruption platform Lokayukta to combat corruption in the state.
The president of the NVCO, Kezhokhoto Savi told Eastern Mirror that the state had failed to set up Lokayukta when the Supreme Court had given a three months’ time to all the states in the country to set up the ombudsman. Nonetheless, Savi is hopeful that the government would respect the Supreme Court’s order and set up Lokayukta within three months this time around.
“Let us not just preach but put into practice and implement it so that the primary objective of the Central Vigilance Commission conducting the ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’ could be achieved in building a good nation,” Savi said.
According to the group’s president, abuse of power, nepotism, extortion, embezzlement, bribery, and fraud are some of the corrupt practices prevailing in the state. Many use their power and status to their advantage which result in corrupt actions including appointment of relatives and family members to government offices,
Savi said. He iterated that taxes were being collected at check-gates illegally by various groups. Savi alleged that even the toll tax collected by municipal councils is not spent for the welfare of the people who pay tax. Misuse of public funds and misappropriation of schemes especially those meant for infrastructural development and public amenities are also seen in Nagaland, the NVCO president said.
The NVCO also expressed hope in a statement that Nagaland will see the end of corruption in the near future as the state’s governor, chief minister, and vigilance commissioner had all ‘spoken against corruption during the vigilance week that they were all out to eradicate corruption.’
The group claimed that the absence of a strong mechanism was the reason behind the rampant corruption in Nagaland, for which Lokayukta shall play a big role in thwarting corruption.
