Several organisations in Dimapur have resolved at an emergency meeting Monday that, “irrespective of any sort of justification/s”, there would be “only one tax” payable to any one faction of the underground groups.
The meeting was attended by Dimapur-based civil society, frontal organisations, student and youth organisations and business community, including Naga Council, NWHD, DCCI (including Chumukedima Chamber of Commerce & Industries), DNSU, YAN, GB Union (Sadar), Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), Dimapur District Consumer Society (DDSC) and Senior Citizen’s Forum held under the aegis of Naga Council. At the meeting, issues of rampant, unabated taxation by underground factions in Dimapur district were discussed and unanimously adopted several resolutions.
It was resolved that action committee comprising of members of civil society, frontal organisations, student and youth organisations and business community of Dimapur would be formed to oversee the issue of taxation in any form imposed by factions and government agencies.
The house also resolved that “back-breaking multiple taxes” on goods imposed at New Field Check gate; at godowns and at shops by groups “should be abolished immediately.”
Affirming that underground groups would be “allowed to levy tax” only at one entry point instead of the present practice, the meeting resolved that “irritants such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas & New Year donations, etc shall not be entertained anymore.”
Further, Monday’s meeting resolved that yearly tax, payable to different factions, would not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances, hence, amount payable would be the same as in 2012.
Strongly condemning creation of the new system of ‘dealership’ by underground groups, the organisations stated that, “under this latest ‘innovation’ to milk businesses dry”, there was only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry could be sold in the open market without the consent of the particular ‘poultry dealer’.
This, the organisations stated also meant that small and independent poultry farmers cannot sell their produce in the market without paying ‘tax’ to the ‘dealer’.
The meeting has therefore requested the underground groups to cancel dealership system immediately since no products/produce in the market should be under the grip of powerful, illegal syndicate/s.
The Dimapur-based organisations also strongly urged the district administration to look into the matter and crack down on those syndicates.
“Any market should be free and fair providing level playing field for all enterprises but the presence of syndicates will ensure that pricing will be monopolized leading to price rise and livelihood of families destroyed,” stated the resolution.
The resolution stated that “out of respect” to the memories of thousands of Naga men and women, who have laid down their lives for the Naga nation, the Naga society so far has remained lenient concerning the “contentious issue” of taxation.
However, it stated that of late, saturation point has been reached, and unless the underground groups learned to respect their subjects, a time would come when the sacrifices of the past 60 years could “well go down the drain” simply because Naga political groups refused to pay heed to the cries of the people, adding that Naga civil society cannot bear responsibility for such an event.
Stating that resolutions adopted at Monday’s meeting cannot be abrogated, the house strongly urged Naga political groups to respect wishes of the organisations since they represented the collective wisdom of the people.
Next meet on May 28
Meanwhile, to discuss further course of action, a meeting has been convened May 28, 11 a.m. at Naga Council office Dimapur. All the organisations – NWHD, DCCI (including Chumukedima Chamber of Commerce & Industries), DNSU, YAN, GB Union (Sadar), Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), Dimapur District Consumer Society (DDSC) & Senior Citizen’s Forum have been requested to send two members each (DCCI five members) to the proposed meeting.
The resolution was signed by all the members present totaling 58 individuals including presidents, vice presidents, general secretaries, joint secretaries, advisors, etc representing the above mentioned organizations besides Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association, East Dimapur Business Assn, Dimapur Hardware association, Nagaland Private Bus Owners’ association.