The tax collected from sale of Alcohol, Tobacco, pornography, prostitution, etc. is known as Sin tax. The name of the tax itself says it is morally not a good tax for the general well being of the society. It is evident that some politicians and citizens in Nagaland are persistent to collect Sin tax by Relaxing NLTP Act. There is a clear divide of those in favour and those who are against NLPT Act.
In the most recent news published Dated 23 August 2024 Vol XXXIV No.257, page 01, Mr K.G. Kenye the Minister for Power, parliamentary affairs and the spokesperson for the State Government said, Nagaland is losing 100 to 200 cores per year due to NLTP act. The fascinating reason he gave for the non success of the NLTP Act was that “Enforcing NLP Act 1989 requires huge funds”. A careful review of the budget submitted by the concerned Excise department in the state for strict enforcement of the NLTP Act 1989 may prove otherwise. An RTI in this matter might clarify that sufficient funds were granted to implement the NLTP Act. Yet NLTP Acts remains so “un-implemented”.
Is the State Government really losing 100 to 200 Cores cash per year as Mr. K. G Kenye stated, or some politician in Nagaland losing 100 to 200 cores per year to some high school drop outs who are running a huge multi crore network of illegal liquor business? In such case it is more of a personal loss than the States loss. Are some ministers jealous and angry because this illegal business is done right under their nose and the they can do nothing about it. As officers responsible for arresting these high school drops outs multi core patis are getting their share of cash, while the ministers are left calculating how many 100s of crore they are losing every year. So, In order to hijack these illegal liquor business walas, some politicians want to relax NLTP Act. Well, this is just my imagination, God forbid it is true.
A suggestion for Mr. G. Keney power Minster. Since the State is so concerned about tax money being lost. Why don’t the power Department Advertise in all media that as per latest Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rule 2020 Section 5 (2) anyone can buy their own power meter for new electric connection. When one can buy power meter online from amazon starting at INR 749. Public have to pay around INR 4000 and above for new power meter connection. This information could have saved 100 of crores of public money. But still today the Nagaland power Department say the public cannot buy power meter by themselves and that they must get it from the power department.
Now just for an idea of tax on alcohol. Assam charges INR 39 to INR 1675.50 on Alcohol products. Karnataka State charges 80% above MRP on alcohols. Every State is free to decide tax on Alcohol. What makes any Alcoholic think in their sober mind that Nagaland will put less Sin tax on Alcohol? No way, they have to make up for all the lost time and money, so yes not much of a hope there.
Mr. Kenye said the state is losing cores of rupees due to NLTP act in Nagaland. Now that is just one side of the story. The other side is what we are gaining from the NLTP act. Because it cannot be all negative. So the positive side is that it controls the full onslaught of Alcohol addiction in the society. The state Government is saving 100 of cores of money to be spent on alcohol related Health treatments. That is money saved, and money saved is money earned. After all isn’t ones Health true wealth?
They say positive point of Relaxing NLTP is more Sin tax for the state. Let us see what may be some of negative points.
1. There will be huge tax above MRP on Alcohol items in Nagaland. Even local rice beers seller will have to pay huge tax too.
2. Ministers in Nagaland will compete to start Liquor Distillery to manufacture alcohol in Nagaland. The excuse will be same but with a twist, now they will say we are losing 100 to 200 cores by buying alcohols from other states. So we will manufacture in Nagaland, this way more tax and employment can be generated.
3. Spiritual and Moral decay especially among the youths. Mostly the unemployed youths will find a new time pass in the free flow of alcohol in the state. Many will drink to death.
4. To raise more Sin tax the State government will issue thousands of licenses to serve alcohol in restaurant and more bars/pubs/disco will open up with licensee to sell alcohol, making alcohols easily accessible for even underage teens. When Government cannot even control the sale of Talab and cigarettes to school kids wonder how will they control sale of alcohol to kids. Its going to be a disaster.
5. Crimes like rape, murder, and robbery will go up. The state government will use the chaotic alcoholic situation created by the governments as an excuse for asking more central funds to open Govt sponsored rehab/ hospitals center for alcoholic Adults and Teenagers. The funds will be used up for some other purpose. Never coming true. In the end more deaths and sorrow.
6. Adulterated alcohols will flow freely in the market. Many people will end up dying in Government runs hospitals because it does not have necessary equipments for diagnosing serious illness.
7. Most of the Sin tax raised on alcohol will disappear by some miracle. Like the disappearing of 500ml dirking water bottle from the market.
8. The wrath of God will come upon Nagaland
To relax a law because it is not successful is absolutely insane. Tell me one place where there are no rules or law on this planet earth. School and colleges have rules. Even pay and use toilet have rules. A dust bin where we put trash has rules. Just because school/college students break the rule, the principal don’t relax the rule. It would cause chaos in school and college, just because some don’t pay after using the toilet, they don’t make it free for all. Just because someone throws trash on the roads, we don’t remove dust bin from the streets. Even in Heaven, where God lives, there are rules. Just because Lucifer broke the rule, God didn’t say lets “relax” rules in Heaven. Even Hell cannot function with “Relaxed” rules.
There are laws against rape, murder and corruption. Still many are getting raped, killed and corrupt every day. The government doesn’t say since law against rape, murder and corruption is not successful so let’s “relax” it. That is unthinkable. In fact the state must make the laws stricter instead of relaxing it. But this is what the many leaders and public in Nagaland are asking “relax NLTP” because it is not “successful”. Such dangerous ideas can ruin a State. God help us.
Some have compared drinking coca-cola and whisky as both harmful for the body if used without control. That is right. But drinking coca-cola does not make a person drunk and do immoral things. Coke does not ruin a person’s moral life nor puts the family in poverty or harm the whole society.
A writer named Fr. James in his article “You shall not call Unclean, what God called clean” said Jesus drank wine and that Jesus tuned water into wine. He is right; Jesus did not drink whisky or beer. Also Jesus did not turn water into whisky, beer, vodka or gin. Wine is not prohibited in Nagaland either. He said the “Bible does not prohibits or condemn the use of wine. But counsel’s moderation in its uses.” But when we tell someone to drink in moderation, is it not intended to prohibit the person from excess drinking. So it is an indirect prohibition.
Fr. James whole thesis stand on the idea that God does not prohibit the rightful use of anything but only prohibit the misuse an abuse of Gods created thing. He is right again. This is why we have NLPT. We humans misuse and abuse Gods created things. NLTP prohibits use of Alcohol so as to prevent it from being misused and abused. It is only when alcohol was misused and abused NLTP came to force in 13th April 1990. Before that Nagaland was a wet state for 28 years that is from 1st Dec1962 to 12th April 1990. All humans alive in this world have our own short comings. Even the holy Pope in Rome has to visit the confession box every now and then for confessing his sins. Look around how many have mastered their free will. That’s why we have laws.
Why totally ban the use of Polythene bags? Does the Bible say it is sin to use polythene bags? No, but Humans abuse it. God allowed Adam to eat from the tree of good and evil, but why was Adam stopped by God to eat from the tree of Life? (Gen3:22-24) Was that not against Adams free will? This is an example of necessary prevention. It is not the right of free will; but limitation of free will.
Dear all in support of relaxing NLTP. Nagaland is not losing 100-200 crores per year. If NLTP Act is saving even 10 to 20 people’s lives a year, it is sill million times worth more that INR 100-200 crores made by selling alcohol. Because these 10 to 20 people’s lives saved are someone’s father, mother, son, brother, sister, husband, wife, etc. Even a single person’s life saved is priceless. We must value “life” over “Sin Tax.”
Is it time for one more fast unto death as done by the church leader and believers in the 1980’s which gave birth to NLTP Act? The Bible says some Sprits need fasting and prayer to be removed. (Matthew 17:21). Is this not a bad Sprit that is causing this division? Are we not fighting against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Is it necessary for a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the states policy to relax NLTP Act? We cannot stop the birds from flying in the sky, but we most certainly can stop the birds from building a nest in our home. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall. (Psalms 35:7-9) God save Nagaland.
Imlisanen Phom
Dimapur