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Asst. Professor Kohima Law College and president NVCO, Kezhokhoto Savi speaking at the awareness programme held at Pfutsero Government College, Phek on September 24. (Photo Courtesy: KLC)
Phek, September 29 (MExN): The NVCO President, Kezhokhoto Savi urged the public to voice against ‘illegal’ collection. Savi was speaking at a sensitization and awareness programme on consumer rights, environment, food, safety, street vendors, food security and human rights which was held at Pfutsero Government College, Phek on September 24.
Savi, while addressing the students, highlighted the illegal practices which causes price-rise in the market stating that “the victims are the consumers.”
“The citizens/traders/public of other district must voice against the illegal collections of taxes especially at the check-gates and on highways,” he urged.
He stated that till date the NVCO has been receiving the receipt of the Dimapur Truck Owners’ Association (DTOA). However, Savi pointed out that “in a judgment and order dated June 3, 2014 in W.P. (C) No. 39(K) of 2011 the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench had disallowed the Dimapur Truck Owners’ Association from collection of cash on highways and at the check-gates.”
“Judgment & order includes the three Writ Petitions of the Petroleum and Land Transport Workers Federation of India (Guwahati/Assam based) represented by its President Akheto Achumi in two several Writ Petitions and another by its President A S Nungsang Ao and this Federation is still illegally continuing collecting cash on highways in Nagaland including a counter situated above Loyola Higher Secondary School Jakhama,” the NVCO President said.
The option is, if the state government continues with GST in the state then it has to stop all authorized and illegal practices in the name of tax, he added.
The NVCO further appealed the public “to come out and fight against the illegal collection of taxes in their respective district similar fight of the PAC of Naga Council Dimapur which is highly appreciated by all the consumers as all these taxes are finally realised by the so called helpless consumers.”
Meanwhile, the resources persons in the awareness programme consisted of the LL.B final students of Kohima Law College (KLC) namely Vikehienuo Vimerha; R. Wonchibeni Tsangalo; P. Zuhing; Vikhozolie and Dieku Chakhesang led by its Asst. Professor Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate who is also the President of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO).
The team highlighted the importance of the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, been implemented in the state. “Food safety means an assurance that the food is acceptable for human consumption when it is prepared and eaten according to its intended use,” they said.
“Chemical contamination which occurs when food has been contaminated by chemical substance such as non-permitted food addictive, permitted food addictives added beyond safety limits, cleaning agents, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. Food borne diseases may be caused as a result of consuming food which has been contaminated by the toxic chemicals or the biological organism, and some of the food borne diseases may be self-limiting. According to WHO every year an estimated 600 million people which is almost 1 in 10 people in the world fall ill and 4, 20, 000 die after eating contaminated food,” it added.
The team further mentioned that in Nagaland the Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland, department of Health & Family Welfare is designated as Food Safety Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer in the district is designated as Food Safety Officer.
In this regard they appealed the citizen to access to State Public Health Laboratory situated at Para-Medical, Kohima for any suspected food with sample.
The awareness programme was attended by all the college students with Vice-Principal and Assistant Professors, informed a press release issued by Kezhokhoto Savi, Asst. Professor Kohima Law College.
