Kezhokhoto Savi,
President, NVCO
Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) team including president, vice-president, joint secretary & executive members took part in the 5th Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) Cultural Festival and conducted a workshop on “Consumer Rights” during the noon Session.
The following points mention were discussed considering as the main grievances of the citizens in the state in day-to-day lives during the Consumer Rights workshop and the NVCO appealed to the concerned authorities for necessary actions and the general public to be more aware of their rights and responsibilities as a consumer. The important point, which urgently requires looking into are as follows:
1. The shortage of supply of LPG cooking gas throughout the state is one major problem faced by the citizens as it did not even spared the commercial hub Dimapur and state capital Kohima. It is very heartening to see the citizens fighting among themselves in a long line to get their share and this has been going on for a long time and despite of waiting in a line since very early morning many do not get their share. It is high time the district administration to take initiative in solving this shortage and after all we cannot run our kitchen without LPG especially citizens in urban/town areas. The District Administration should check and stopped the hotels, restaurants, hostels from taking LPG Domestic connection which is also causing shortages and stopped black-marketing.
2. As per the Food Safety & Standard Act, the government of Nagaland has to implement this act effectively as huge food products coming from outside which are not fit for consumption are flowing in our market. The several week days market are more common with sub-standard goods and the citizens are going for it as the prices were low but the fact is many items are not fit for consumption such as lose powder milk, lose musala haldi, mustard oil, etc. Except some few agricultural products almost everything is coming from outside and this is the reason the prices is high and more sub-standard food products were also more available in the market.
3. The services such as mobile phones run by several companies does making a lot of money at the big cost of consumers by way of deducting money from the consumers in the pretext of sending sms, sports news, etc without taking the consent of the consumers. This is highly illegal that no company can charge some one’s money without taking the consent of one. The NVCO warns the companies not to steal money from the consumers terming as day light robbery.
4. The roads are so bad everywhere in the state despite of spending hundred and hundred crores of rupees for it. What is this? Who is responsible? Who were the victims? And even coming to Noklak town the solid 28 kms were totally kaccha road not even a skin of black-topping could be seeing and it appears to be not even a single black-topping was done earlier and what a shame such a big town of ADC (Adminstration) Hq.
5. Unlike other parts of the country, the prices of essential commodities and clothes shoot up during the Christmas season every year in the state of Nagaland. And it did not even spare the Hornbill Festivals where the prices were so high and exorbitant. We are aware that price-rise is one problem faced by the country but in the case of Nagaland it is too much including the commercial hub & state capital Kohima the prices of every items has gone up too high and exorbitant. The state government and the district administration in all the districts have to take this issue as one main major grievance of the consumers. Price has to be control and now one major contribution that would caused the price more high is the toll taxes at the gates allowed by the government at a very high rate. And here the government must understand what does the toll tax means? Toll tax are to collect to maintain roads or bridges and for public utility but in the case of Nagaland the money collected in the name of toll from vehicles are never spending for public utility nor for maintaining public roads, bridges, etc. The NVCO expressed its serious unhappiness towards allowing toll tax at an exorbitant rate and this is totally against public interest.
6. Unfair trade practices such as unfair means of balance in measurement is common in Nagaland. Today, the butchers are the worse group as every time when consumer buy meat the butchers never give accurate weight and this is the common problem and not only the butchers this is going on with fish, mutton, chicken and even in grocery shops. The NVCO appealed the government especially the concerned authorities to take stringent actions to stop this menace.
7. Despite of Government standing orders the Nagaland Police and others at the check-gates continually collect money, which is also causing price-rise. What are the government agencies doing to protect the government standing orders or the government is inviting an NGO or NVCO to take law in their own hands?
Considering these points as a serious concern for the consumers, the NVCO during their awareness tour programme, went to meet various district administration, which was not successful.
