Beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Micro Finance Scheme (CMMFS), who have purchase commercial vehicles are said to having issues getting commercial permits.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to draw the attention of the Government of Nagaland and the concerned authorities to an issue affecting beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Micro Finance Scheme (CMMFS).
I appreciate the government's decision to extend this scheme, which has created valuable opportunities for many educated unemployed Naga youths in the state. Numerous beneficiaries have availed of the scheme to purchase commercial vehicles, including taxis, with the hope of earning a sustainable livelihood.
However, many beneficiaries are facing serious difficulties because the Transport Department has yet to issue the necessary commercial permits for these vehicles. Although they have already started repaying their bank EMIs, they have been unable to operate their vehicles for commercial purposes for the past six to seven months. The authorities have cited delays in the installation of the Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) as the reason for withholding the permits, stating that the devices are currently unavailable.
As a result, beneficiaries are left with no source of income to meet their loan repayments. What was intended to be a welfare initiative is becoming a financial burden for many young entrepreneurs. If this situation continues, the scheme risks losing its intended purpose of empowering unemployed youth.
Therefore, I earnestly appeal to the Government of Nagaland and the concerned authorities to issue provisional or commercial taxi permits to the beneficiaries without further delay, allowing them to operate their vehicles and repay their bank loans. The VLTD can be installed as and when it becomes available.
A timely intervention will not only ease the financial hardship of the beneficiaries but also uphold the true objective of the scheme.
Yours faithfully,
Kevi Vizo
Concerned Citizen
Kohima