Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has once again flagged the issue of multiple taxation and threatened to take recourse to legal remedies and indefinite voluntary closure of all activities by traders across Nagaland if the State government failed to address the issue.
In a three-point representation addressed to the chief secretary , CNCCI chairman Dr Khekugha Muru and general secretary Dr Seyievilie Mor reiterated that multiple taxation by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) besides taxes imposed by government agencies, including Municipal and Town councils, have burdened the business community and made it difficult for them to engage in any meaningful business activities.
CNCCI observed that despite this issue being flagged on several occasions, the government “seemed to be in no mood” to address it with seriousness.
CNCCI also pointed out that this issue was again raised by its confederating unit, the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), through local media and to CNCCI. The signatories said CNCCI has taken the issue with outmost seriousness since the issue was not limited to Dimapur district, but affected the entire business community of Nagaland.
CNCCI in their letter, demanded that the State government exhibit its will and immediately address the issue of multiple taxation and intimate the business community accordingly. It also sought immediate stoppage of the item tax, fee collected on items that come under GST regime by various municipal and town councils as GST has subsumed all other taxes under “One Nation, One Tax”.
CNCCI also called for immediate stoppage of other taxes levied at various gates by government departments/agencies falling under GST regime.
CNCCI reiterated that it is the apex chamber of commerce representing 11 district chambers of commerce and industry and business community of Nagaland.
Meanwhile, CNCCI also called for immediate implementation of Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI)Act, which it had been raising since the past three years through various platforms and through representations to chief minister.
While appreciating the government for tabling the Act in Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the last winter session and for forming a committee, CNCCI however expressed dismay that the legislation was not endorsed in the monsoon session.
It claimed that the business community was now facing more hardship as many banks have slopped giving fresh Loans or fresh enhancement even on cadastral land despite the chief secretary’s order of May 12, 2021. CNCCI said it expected the government to be a facilitator and not a stumbling block for the business community and educated unemployed youth.
It demanded convening of special Assembly session for immediate implementation of the SARFAESI Act.
Further, CNCCI demanded representation of business community in local civic bodies. CNCCI said the community bore a large portion of revenue in the form of trade licence, sanitation tax, passenger vehicle tax, gate tax, item tax, etc, for effective and sustained functioning of municipal and town councils, but regretted that all decisions taken in respect to business-related activities, including various civic body taxations, were made without the representation of stakeholders (business community).
CNCCI said non-representation of business community in civic bodies defeated the whole purpose of grassroots governance, which the state government was proud of.
In this regard, CNCCI reiterated its demand to have “reserved nominee representation” of business and trade bodies in all the civic bodies, including adhoc town councils, across Nagaland.