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The issue of revisiting Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTP Act) 1989 has been a long drawn issue which do surface again and again in public domain and the successive government has been pressurised repeatedly with a view to lift the Act. On the other hand the church organisations are all the time adamant that NLTP Act should not be lifted or repealed. Nagaland is a Christian state with its people being massively Christian by faith. Democracy is the government of people who voted the government of the past and present in power. While dwelling on revisiting the NLTP Act, the revisiting should be done in such a way to enforce the Act effectively and should not venture to lift the Act but study the ways and means as to how the Act can be regulated in its true spirit. To understand the issue better one must study the actual facts and also those dubious statements and justifications.
An analysis of the side issues
1. Cultural impact: I do not know much about other tribes, but as far as the major tribes of Tenyimia are concerned, drinking was considered to be the first or second most important component of any feasts in the past the other being meat by culture. Offering a drink (Rice Beer) those pre Christian days was an expression of true friendship and valued much. But the bad practice of such friendly offering was such that unless your friend was given to certain level of intoxication, it felt a sense of incompleteness. But when your friend got heavily drunk/intoxicated offered by you, it was considered a pride for both the friends. This cultural impact is still prevalent among the common people of most Tenyimia tribes. Therefore, the users among common people do not drink for digestion or appetite. Our Tenyimia culture of drinking is bad. On the contrary the Bengalis or the Assamese can feast together by 15-20 persons with a bottle of liquor. Can the Nagas also use in this way? May be only 2/3 per cent can use in the same way as above. The rest will surely misuse and therefore cannot advocate for lifting the Act,
2. NLTP Act Fuelled more Drug Users: This is another disdainful talk of the road, that with this Act in place the drug users have increased. If human being biologically needs one or the other intoxicating substance, doctors will give their justification long before in this case.
3. Wealthy Bootleggers: Every now and then people envy that some liquor bootleggers are disproportionately becoming very rich. I think, there is nothing to envy such wealth accumulated by damaging the future generation. Because damage begets damage.
4. No Country succeeded in Liquor Prohibition: There is no established formula that something failed in other countries is bound to fail in our land too. This is just another excuse by the people . The successive governments, starting from the congress era put forward as many excuses as it can. We say Nothing can be successful without effort and proper monitoring.
5. Spurious products kills: Many people are said to have died because of spurious liquor products and it is because of NLTP Act in Nagaland. If anyone is born to this earth and died of the lack of food and safe drinking water, sue the government for not providing basic necessity. Otherwise our sympathy draws blank on such quality liquor not being available.
6. No penalty for the NLTP Act Violators: Government Acts in operation, have to enforce as per provisions of each Act . If an offender of any other act says; Since the Government is not penalising the defaulters of NLTP Act, I should also be not penalised because both the Act are government Acts and in operation. This will be a valid ground for offenders under other Acts of Government.
7. Loss of Revenue: This is a dialogue of the successive governments. The question here is whether the Government should go for quality and contributing citizens or exchange with revenue priority. Christian values and principles are depleting by the change of times for which the churches are facing acute challenges and in the midst of such challenges our Government has no interest to implement the NLTP Act. If this NLTP Act is obliterated or repealed then after a decade, who knows, you may find your PA/PS /Secretary /Director, all in a drunken state.
8. LGBTQ problem: If our Government of the day or the people wish to do away with the NLTP Act despite of being a Christian state, the next force hovering and waiting over your head will be to legitimise and legalise LGBTQ group and there after the full blown modernity and civilisation will be accomplished culminating to closing down of the churches like the West. Hope we are not marching and pressing towards such a situation in search of prosperity and modernity.
Once the Act is lifted partially or totally, to restore/reinstate after realising the mistake will be next to impossible and on the other hand we can’t go as it is now. The NBCC is very often blamed for the failures, however once the Act is enacted, it is the responsibility of the Government to find ways and means as to how the Act should be regulated. NBCC has no army or police force to enforce such Act, rather we all know, it is not appropriate to do so as a religious organisation.
Here the remedial measures are required for successful regulation of the Act. Under any cost the Excise department should be re-strengthened and restructured. Police department can be given a task of research to segregate common crimes and alcohol related crimes and if necessary some percent of General police forces can be cut down to strengthen the Excise department.
Naga society is a Christian society. Nagaland is a Christian State by people. What are the expected elements in a Christian society or for that matter expected by the outside world upon a Christian state. I think these points should be kept in mind while trying to formulate any policy. Hope we are not regretted by being a Christian or so to say Living in a Christian State.
Kepe Chüsi
Kohima