Taxation woes

 

On March 17, an ‘azha’ issued by NSCN (IM) Yaruiwo concerning ‘tax collection and loan’ was published in the local dailies. The standing order stated that “unauthorised” and independent collection of the government tax and loan by individual national workers would not be entertained and seriously viewed by the government. The order comes at a high time when unabated taxation and other forms of corruption at Naga national government level and State government level have been consuming a lot of space in the newspapers and other social fora. The movement has been gaining momentum under the initiative of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT). From the order, it could be understood that the NSCN (IM) would continue to collect tax provided it is authorised by its government (GPRN). But what the public, through ACAUT, has been reiterating repeatedly is to give tax to only one government in line with its slogan, ‘One Government, One Tax.’ The public demand is not about doing away with “unauthorised” taxation. In fact, the demand is to do away with all such authorised taxation by various Naga political groups and come down to only one authorised tax under one government. What the various Naga national governments see it as legitimate and authorised tax with approval and proper written orders from different ministries and departments, the public see it as “unabated” authorised taxation. That is why the demand for one government, one tax. GPRN/NSCN president, ‘Gen’ (Retd) Khole Konyak in his address to the Tatar Hoho cum Budget Session in March stressed on the policy of ‘minimal taxation.’ Well, minimal taxation is a pleasant phrase but Naga people are not demanding any pleasantries on taxation but just one tax to one government. On March 25 and April 1, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) publicised in the press about NSCN (K) and NSCN (IM) respectively agreeing to abstain from collecting yearly tax from the traders registered under KCCI till such time market financial status improves. Regardless of whether the agreement would be implemented in totality, this brings to question the GPRN/NSCN, NNC/FGN and other Naga groups as to why it cannot follow suit. This also brings another question as to why Kohima alone has been given that special treatment of absolving yearly tax for some time. The remaining districts are also equally craving for such gesture from the Naga political groups. Heavily burdened citizens in Dimapur where ACAUT movement first started needs more relief than any other district. But because Dimapur is revenue-rich for all, perhaps it would cause discomfiture for the Naga national groups to make a similar call. ACAUT is fighting against corruption and unabated taxation not only with regard to the Naga groups but the state government too. However, for the moment, ACAUT appears too occupied with taxation affairs of the Naga groups while corruption and taxation at the state government level continues unabated. As mentioned by ACAUT, it must be noted that there are some places like Tuensang where the government taxation is heavier than Naga political groups. It is understood that ACAUT’s One Government One Tax slogan refers to the public’s will to give tax to only one Naga national government for which practical unity of all groups coming under one umbrella is necessary. Even if all the Naga national groups come together under one umbrella, it would still be required for the public to continue giving tax to the state government until such time the Naga issue is resolved. In such a scenario, the public would still be taxed by two governments – state government and unified Naga national government – two governments, two taxes. One wonders if the ACAUT would consider its objective being fulfilled once the Naga groups come under one umbrella facilitating the public to pay only one tax to one Naga national government. Despite that achievement, it has to be known that the public would still have to pay another tax to the state government. Since its initial stages, ACAUT has been saying that its target encompasses both the state government and Naga national groups, and with that statement ACAUT has been proclaiming the slogan; One Government, One Tax. Since ACAUT’s role is limited only to the taxation and corruption affairs, the slogan One Government, One Tax can be practically realized only when the Naga issue is resolved between the Government of India and the Naga people. Before that, multiple governments, multiple taxes shall remain or the least taxation could be, two governments, two taxes.