Students debate on liquor prohibition

Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act of 1989 became a burning topic yet again on Saturday as students from 24 colleges in Nagaland merged at Sazolie College Jotsoma to debate on the issue witnessed by intellectuals, academicians and church leaders.
The three hour long debate culminated with opposition bench winning the upper hand in opposing “Liquor prohibition is good for the state.”
Chairman of IT and C. Vikho-o Yhoshü, who graced the debate competition as chief guest said society needed healthy debate as the voice of the people was the essence of democracy.
He encouraged people to debate, argue and reason so as to see both sides of the same coin.
He also lauded Sazolie College for organizing the annual inter-college debate competition. The competition on Saturday was the 5th inter college debate competition organized by Sazolie College.
Drawing conclusion from the debate, members from both treasury and opposition bench voiced out for corruption-free leaders and the government to be more stringent in implementing laws.
Some key points mentioned by the members in support of “liquor prohibition is good for the state” were that alcohol causes moral degradation, health hazard, lawlessness in society and main hurdle for development in the state. Supporting the Church, the motion party stated that prohibition was life saving aid, better than consequential sacrifice. The members also pointed out that more than loss of revenue, loss of human resources was important.
They also added that income revenue could be generated from other areas other than legal sale of alcohol. The bench also suggested that the Act could be further strengthened by recruiting more excise personnel and joined effort of the police, administration and the public.
While on the other hand, the opposition bench argued, the Act was like a “corpse” non functional and a mockery. They stated that alcohol consumption was individual’s decision, and that rather than prohibition, the government should open counseling and rehabilitation centres for alcoholics.
With income revenue declining, they added that the prohibition was a harbour for black-marketers and bootleggers to expand their spurious liquor industry. The bench also suggested that prohibition be lifted but with active steps from the government in checking license for liquor shops, creating age limit for liquor consumption.
Professor Dr. Glen Thong, department of Geology, Nagaland University, who participated as critic of the debate competition, said NLTP Act had failed miserably in the state.
While mentioning that church and civil societies put forward the Act with best of intention, yet after 21 years, the act had become non-functional. He stated that the church and civil societies, apart from debating, had no say in deciding for the government to lift or continue with the prohibition.
Rather, Professor Thong stated that Church can play big role in extending help to alcoholics by regaining back their values. “Corruption is killing the society, not prohibition”, he said.
While expressing his view that prohibition should be lifted, Professor Dr. Glen also added that along with it, steps should be taken such as restricted licensing of liquor shops, sale of liquor in restricted areas, setting of age limit, strict action against unruly behavior, train and empower police personnel etc.
Members in the judges panel for the competition included Dr. Joyce Angami, project manager, Nossal Institute, India; Dr. Kezha Angami, managing director of Bethel Medical Centre and member of prohibition committee, NBCC; and Advocate Kezhokhoto Savi, lecturer Law College Kohima.
In the end of the competition, Litokba from Patkai Christian College bagged the best speaker, Vinito from Sazolie College in the second and Hamdok M. Konyak from Kohima Science College won the third place. Consolation winners included Akong Temsu from Dimapur College; Mehimo Apon from Mount Olive College; Nitoka from Kohima College; Inaka Achumi from Asian College Dimapur and Aolemla from Baptist College Kohima. Altogether 24 colleges from Kohima, Dimapur, Jalukie, Pfutsero and Mokokchung participated in the competition.
Earlier, Dr. Nie Whiso Kuotsu, principal of Sazolie College welcomed the gathering. Songs were presented by Kekhriesenuo, while moderator of the debate competition was Bendangzenla Longkumer.