NVCO president addresses consumer rights issues

Kohima, May 12 (MExN): The president of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) & Assistant Professor, Kohima Law College, Kezhokhoto Savi has said that consumers in Nagaland are made to continuously suffer from price rise caused by several factors such as illegal collections of cash at the check-gates by police and several other organisations, illegal taxation by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs), Goods & Services Tax (GST) etc.  

He was speaking at the training on Consumer Rights and Redressal of Grievances organized by Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Kohima from May 8 to 9.  

Savi reminded of the standing order dated June 22, 2009, where the State government has banned all collections of taxes by any organisation or individual including government departments in check-gates or any part of the highway. He further noted that the Gauhati High Court Judgement & Order dated June 3, 2014 has disallowed organisations/ federations/ unions/ associations to collect cash on the highways.  

“Despite of these orders the state government failed to check the illegal collection of taxes and terribly failed to control the prices of goods and services,” the NVCO president lamented.  

A press release from NVCO Press & Media Cell said he also demanded that the toll tax collection by the municipal/town councils in the State should be stopped with the introduction of GST.  

Pointing out that complaints against unfair means of measurement, especially practiced by butchers, continues, he suggested introducing electronic weighing machine in consultation with expert department. A proper slaughter house with sanitation is highly required and even the Department of Veterinary should play a role here, Savi added.  

Consumers, he further stated, must carefully check the products before buying. He also highlighted the shortage of LPG (cooking gas) supply faced by consumers while filled LPGs are easily available in black market.  

For redressal of grievances, he requested to call the State Consumer Helpline Toll Free No. 1800-345-3701 during office hours. One can also approach either the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum or State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission as the last resort, it was informed.  

Calling out the State government for failing to provide basic requirements to its consumers, Savi asserted the prevailing road conditions, water supply, electricity supply and services, etc are simply consumer rights’ exploitation. He further criticized the State government stating that appointing non-elected legislators in the status of cabinet ministers and ministers of state violates the Indian Constitution. The Governor must question such “unconstitutional appointment,” he added.  

“Party workers and others…being appointed in the rank of commissioner & secretary/ secretary/ jt. secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland and Class 1 Gazetted to be associated with CMO without considering any educational qualifications and other requirements is beyond backdoor appointments.”  

Savi also dwelt on the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which he termed as an important Act in the history of the consumer movement in the country.  

During the discussion hour, several participants raised questions on National Food Security Act 2013 that almost every village council or town colony panchayat is selling rice above Rs. 3/- per kg and the beneficiaries are not getting their due shares, the release said.  

Savi noted that both Above Poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries have been amalgamated under the name of Priority Household (PHH) and the beneficiaries are entitled to 5 kg of food grains per head at Rs.3/- per kg for rice and Rs.2/- for wheat in the ratio of 4:1. The implementation of National Food Security Act 2013 is incomplete without the setting up of Food Commission in the state, he added.  

The NVCO president also presented on Food Safety & Standard Act requesting the consumers/citizens to avail the facilities of mobile food testing laboratory to ensure food safety.