DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): The Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur has written to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and submitting a resolution on ‘the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989’ while pointing to the discrepancy and loopholes in the Act and also stating what it described as the ‘total failure and negligence of the State government’. The letter was signed by Mrs. Hukheli T. Wotsa and Mrs. Liangsi Niumai John, President and General Secretary respectively of the Women hoho.
Referring to the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, the Naga Women Hoho stated that “the penalties and punishments for the commission of any offence stated in the provisions pertaining to liquor is too light and too lenient and as such it is understood that when the law is not stringent the offenders will be better equipped to repeat bigger offence because such punishment will not affect the habitual criminal offenders”.
The women group stated that it had a vision of peace, harmony and prosperity in our society and that they “cannot remain a silent spectator when our society is ruined by the intake of Alcohol and drugs”. The press note informed that in order to protest the menace caused by the abuse and intakes of drugs and alcohol the Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur with its tribe unit, Citizens/Public of Dimapur with the support of Naga Council, G.B Association of Dimapur District and DNSU gathered at City Tower Point on 28th July, 2012 to express the importance of implementation of Total Prohibition of Alcohol and Drug in Nagaland.
And as such the following resolutions were unanimously adopted. Firstly to apprise the Government to review or amend “The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989’ with suitable strategies applicable to our situation. In particular the resolution mentioned that the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989’ becomes meaningless when license/permit is given to have bonded warehouses in the state of Nagaland by virtue of section 15 &17 of the Act.
“Such loopholes has resulted the free flow of liquor and created better opportunity to money-grubbers/black marketers for illegal supply & sale and free access from the famous next door border- Khatkhati, Assam and from the bonded warehouse in Nagaland”, the resolution stated. In fact the said Act instead of prohibiting it is attracting more illegal liquor suppliers and license holder/s to flourish their business, it stated while pointing out that this had “deceived the people and has ruined many lives”. “If the government does not act immediately it is going to ruin the lives of our future generations”.
The resolution also reminded the Government to strengthen and give quality professional support to Alcohol and Drugs Rehabilitation Centre run by the Government and NGOs in the state. It also resolved to inform the Associations, Churches, Institutions, families and individuals through media, workshops & seminars to be responsible in sensitizing the evil menace cause by the intake of alcohol.
It also resolved to do away with section 15 and 17 and other related allied sections of “The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989’. “Sections related to penalty and punishment needs to be amended so that violators/habitual offenders are awarded with suitable/stringent punishment. The government should be serious and act urgently to make the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, meaningful”, the resolution stated.
