Demands end to harassment of essential goods service providers
Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has made several suggestions on the state government to ensure that while the objective of lockdown is pursued, it must also ensure that the economy does not suffer on account of haphazard lockdown measures.
CNCCI through its media affairs said it welcomed the lockdown which was based on inputs of experts and wholeheartedly supported by the general public including the business community. However, CNCCI said the current lockdown appears to have been imposed without working out details about implementation and which has caused damage to the state’s economy and business.
CNCCI said this only made it wonder whether the state government has learnt anything from the previous lockdown in having a more organized and systematic lockdown. For instance, CNCCI said the exemption of essential commodities by the state government was taken a responsibility by the business community to serve public. In this regard, CNCCI said the community has been working tirelessly to ensure availability of essential items in the market despite risks involved.
Despite all these efforts, CNCCI said business community was dismayed that harassment meted out by law enforcement agencies and lockdown volunteers against essential service providers and vehicles on essential duty. It therefore demanded that the state government “intervene and stop all forms of harassment across the state.” CNCCI also disclosed that under Odd-Even system for vehicles in Dimapur, vehicles on essential service duties were imposed fines adding this was “totally uncalled for”.
It said while the need of the hour was to jointly fight the pandemic instead of collecting fines and harassing essential service providers who are braving the pandemic to feed public. CNCCI has requested that the odd-even system and imposition of fine be not applicable to essential service providers.
In the event of the request not being heeded, CNCCI has warned that it would be left with no choice but to direct the DCCI and the affiliated business bodies to “stop essential service system”.
Further, CNCCI said the government had with good intention, exempted construction activities from the lockdown purview as these support thousands of daily wage earners and to ensure that development activities did not ground to a halt.
However, by closing hardware stores, garages, spare parts shops, CNCCI said this has made a mockery of exemption of construction activities. CNCCI has therefore demanded that the above mentioned stores be allowed to open immediately so that construction activities can resume.
CNCCI has also suggested that in Dimapur particularly under Dimapur Municipal area, the above mentioned shops should be permitted to open on Odd-Even number. CNCCI also said shops along the stretch of the Highway from Purana Bazaar to Chumoukedima should be permitted to open as in normal days since shops are far apart from each other and with enough space to maintain SOP.
In the light of the above, CNCCI has urged upon the state government to “immediately act upon the suggestion” with all seriousness and urgency.