NVCO supports action against illegal tax collection

NVCO members at students of Tyrannus Boys Hostel at the consumer awareness campaign for social justice held at Tyrannus Boys Hostel Jakhama on September 21. (Photo Courtesy: NVCO)

Kohima, September 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) while extending support to the PAC-NC Dimapur, stated that the Public Action Committee (PAC) Naga Council (NC) “were compelled to go and check the check-gates at Dimapur because the state government particularly the district administration fails to eradicate the menace of illegal collection of cash at the check-gates maintained by Nagaland Police.”

The NVCO members were speaking at a consumer awareness campaign for social justice held at Tyrannus Boys Hostel Jakhama on September 21 with resource persons from NVCO including Jevitoli Sumi, Mhabeni Tungoe, Shanchu Khiam, Kivitoli Swu led by its President Kezhokhoto Savi.

The NVCO in a press release stated that “as seen in local papers the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur visited the PAC officials and volunteers on September 20 and appealed them to suspend the checking of the gates.” In this regard the NVCO questioned the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police, Dimapur whether “they are willing to eradicate all these conduct of illegality” and stated that “the Commissioner of Police must first stop the illegal collections by the Nagaland Police at check gates.”

It also questioned other districts “as to why the general public so called ‘consumers’ remain silent in this issue, as it is happening in all the check-gates.”

Highlighting on Consumer Rights the NVCO team stated that it is more important to create awareness under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 so that consumers can remain vigilant and more alert while buying goods and availing services. 

It further stated that the State Government “is still failing to take up certain effective measures to promote and protect the rights of the consumers in Nagaland." “Limited information, limited supplies, law literacy are the main factors causing exploitation of consumers. The consumer must be made aware of their rights and duties and also the information regarding the goods which is the need of an hour as in this age of globalization," it added.

Meanwhile, the NVCO also stated that the main objectives of each manufacture is to maximize his profit and in doing so they tend to neglect the interest of the consumer and exploit them by over charging, under weighing, sales of products after expiry dates, sales of spurious drugs, misleading the consumer by giving false advertisement etc. 

“The government is still failing to check the various illegal practices,” it said and further asked the state government “to stop the practice of lease and also check syndicate, and also requested “not to allow any underground faction to registered shops, industries, factories, etc.” 

The members also urged that while buying goods or availing services every consumer needs to keep in mind certain duties such as; check the accurate weights; date of expiry, read; check quality and quantity, ISI mark, etc. 

If a consumer feels cheated by traders or manufacturers they can complain to the consumer disputes redressal agencies, the members informed.