Much has been said on the alarming proportions of illegal taxation throughout Nagaland by a number of agencies, which are even difficult to count. But the ground situation seems to be worsening despite repeated public resentment. There is a Govt (I hope), there are many parallel Govts, Departments, NGOs, even students bodies, and highest density of check gates, every one collecting taxes, (iI) legally, in addition to many more self appointed tax collectors. So many masters and one poor soul!! And the variety of taxes is bizarre and absurd. Even the Guinness people must be watching things here with interest, for a possible entry in their Record Books. Name a thing, and it is taxed many times over. We have taxes on houses, property, salary, goods, services, vehicles, schools, etc and demand notes, diktats, threats, harassment and humiliation.
But what is worse is the adverse effect it is having on this beautiful land , its wonderful people and the shaky economy. Taxation now seems to have become a business and main occupation for many. As a result, Kohima and Dimapur have become one of the costliest cities of India. Many people are thriving on this business at the cost of poor Naga people, for whom life is slowly becoming hell.
The latest in this melodrama is the rampant issue of permit / I Cards to all non-Nagas illegally by NSCN (IM) under the garb of checking immigrants, when the elected State Govt is already issuing ILPs. I have many non-Naga friends in the business community and their anger and displeasure is at its peak now. Many of them even want to exit Nagaland. And since they are the backbone and driving force of Naga economy as of now, result will be a clear disaster.
The statements of the CM and even some public officials ,and the Govt feigning ignorance shows a total game plan of taking the helpless poor public for a ride, allowing various groups and ,factions to reign supreme.
The only glimmer of hope has been the efforts of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) and Nagaland GB Federation (NGFB) in this regard. President NVCO himself exposed the nexus of 19 different taxes being collected at five different places (to the tune of Rs 805/-, in addition to other legal authorized taxes) from a single truck between Dimapur and Kohima (a distance of 75 km)! Recent resolution by APO to also involve to check the menace needs full cooperation by all.
Imagine the harassment caused, time wasted and loss to economy. No wonder all truckers want to unload at Guwahati and no one wants to pass through Nagaland. The recent Memos of NVCO to the State Govt and by NGBF to the Nagaland Governor are yet to bear any fruit, since there is no let up in. the ground situation. Even the CPI Gen Secy AP Bardhan had.
And who is the biggest loser? Obviously, the common people. All this illegal and rampant fleecing means costlier daily needs, not to talk of the.
humiliation, harassment and threats by gun carrying parallel authorities. This chronic disease has plagued our society for many years and is slowly developing into a terminal cancer, leaving a permanent scar or the psyche and pride of victims. In fact, different UG groups irrespective of their conflicting ideologies seem to stand united for this self-servicing cause.
It is also a moot point as to where is all this huge amount being collected going to? It is obvious that these generally flow upwards to keep up and maintain the lavish life styles of our self proclaimed liberators. It is our money that enables the P.Sk1tial houses and to send children of these unnamed and faceless leaders to study in Europe and other destinations abroad, whereas we the common people cannot even afford to send our children to schools within Nagaland.
The Nagas today are a people without relief, besieged by this threat from within. But no one will come to fight our battles. We can no more sit and wait, we have to stand up against evil and evil doers because we have the power to make Nagaland a better place to live. With Nagaland fast sinking in the mud, it is now time to not just condemn, but react collectively.
This mafia business of forcible collections by various tax masters has to stop immediately, and Nagas now badly need a tax break. Various international agencies who claim to care for Nagas, various Human Rights organizations and our inhouse NGOs need to prove their sincerity and concern, and come and rescue us. The Govt also needs to take strong action against defaulters and instill confidence in the public, or show its real face, so that we don’t live in a fools paradise (or hell). The hardships and sufferings of common man need a hearing, and much awaited justice. Please enforce justice, or perish. This patience is not limitless.
Heuto Sema and friends, Dimapur
