ST Yapang Lkr
Kohima
After seeing a social media post on the formation of Nagaland Ambulance Association where some of the Ambulance Owners and drivers didn’t like the idea, I am penning down this article to encourage our people to be very cautious, brave and be very mindful of fake news and rumours.
To form any Union/Association it’s individual decision, if we go against it we may become a violator. But we should know that whoever wants to join it in these kind of Union/Association it is individual decision and they don’t have any authority for other members who does not want to join in these Union/Association. And whatever terms and conditions are made by Union/Association, it will be for their members only and it cannot be applicable to non-members. When we face these type of situation if we remain silent or if we don’t file any FIR against the Union/Association we will be the main destroyer of the world.
In our Nagaland, Taxi Union/Association have their own Union/Association, however even Government guidelines does not make it mandatory to register everyone who are driving taxis, and if you did not register under Taxi Union/Association you cannot be bound by their guidelines. Also no one can say that only people who have registered under Taxi Union/Association shall drive taxi. As taxi permits are being provided to the individuals but not to the Union/association.
However if one does not register under Union/Association, one should know that during any kind of emergency or insurgency tax it will be alone only. Also Union/Associations are rich, as of that if they purchase land and make parking space one cannot park their taxi at their place. However at Government road where RTA/RTO allotted parking space for taxis, one can park there even if one does not register under Taxi Union/Association. Though RTA/RTO information may be provided to Taxi Union/Association; however it does not mean that Taxi Union is the owner.
From my experience let me say an example: I was driving someone’s zonal taxi from 2008-2009, at that time on the way if any faction stops the taxi and asks for my Taxi Union ID card, I used to reply, “I’m not a member of Taxi Union and if you want to search it as a guidelines then I shall file a FIR against you” to them.
Right now I’m a businessman in Kohima, but I’m not a member of Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries, (KCCI). They once came to my shop for KCCI collection, and I was told that it was for all the shops, so I replied, “it is a voluntary association, so I will not be a part of it”.
Forming of Union/Association is a good idea, so keep forming it; however these are for voluntary people only. Whoever does not wish to join it they will not join in, and those guidelines are for their members only but not for members who are not a part of it.
