Dimapur, March 13 (MExN): The Tseminyu Sub-Division Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (TSDVCO) was officially declared by the Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Tseminyu, Vikhweno M. Meratsu at Tseminyu Town Hall on March 12.
As a part of the ‘World Consumer Rights Day’ celebration, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) initiated the launching of TSDVCO, a press note from Press & Media Cell, NVCO informed.
According the NVCO, the programme was launched in capacity packed gathering with students, Church leaders, social organizations, Gaonburas(GBs) as well as common people. The NVCO team led by its President Kezhokhoto Savi, public organisations led by the presidents of Rengma Hoho, Rengma Mothers Association and Rengma Youth Organisation (Rengma Selozi) attended the event.
It further informed that while initially a consumer forum was formed mainly to fight against the total failure of electricity services in Tseminyu Sub-Division, the present entity was formed at the advice of NVCO and named TSDVCO after dissolving the former. Led by President John Semy as President, the full fledged team was also installed at the event.
Speaking at the occasion, ADC Vikhweno M. Meratsu exhorted the gathering and said her office will be conducting an essay competition in all the schools within Tseminyu Sub-Division on March 15 on the topic – ‘Rights and Duties of a Consumer’ to mark the occasion of ‘World Consumers’ Rights Day.’
The Presidents of all frontal organisations of Tseminyu also expressed their happiness for the formation of TSDVCO and assured to extend their full support as every person is a consumer, NVCO also noted.
All the frontal organisations complained about deplorable road conditions with dust causing huge unhealthy lives to the citizens, bad electricity and water supply and so on and pointed out that it was a huge failure on the part of public authorities.
NVCO President & Convenor ACAUT Nagaland (legal cell) Kezhokhoto Savi highlighted the mechanism to run the voluntary consumer organisation in Tseminyu as provided under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and stressed on the importance of consumer education as several states has already introduced Consumer Education as a subject in schools with formation of Consumer Clubs in school.
Consumer can also access and register their grievances at Nagaland State Consumer Toll Free Helpline No. 1800-345-3701 during office working hours for any query related to consumer complaint, he added.
Commenting on the controversial order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung recently, Savi said no civil society “happily or voluntarily” take initiative against the illegality or corruption, but are prompted to act because the public authorities who are responsible do so remain a “silent spectators” and in some cases also involve in it.
“The recent order issued by the DC Mokokchung may be correct in the legal perspective but the order was issued at the wrong time and this kind of order may discourage the civil societies to contribute towards Good Governance as a democratic state keeping in mind government for the people, by the people and of the people,” he mainitaned.
A book entitled, “The impact of RTI in Nagaland for the last ten(10) years” was also released at the event and the NVCO President advised the gathering to learn the usages of RTI in the right manner and not to use the same for harassment or for personal gain.
The citizen, through RTI can easily check the corrupt practices of the village authority or government departments such as MNERGA or distribution of items such as rice, kerosene, sugar, wheat meant for BPL or APL or under Public Distribution System and funds meant for public infrastructural development, he further noted.
The note further informed that NVCO President would be addressing teachers on the topic – “Be a Smart Consumer” at State College of Teacher Education(NCTE), Nagaland on March 14.
