The indefinite shutter down called by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) that began on Friday and the one-day shutter down called by the DCCIs of Chümoukedima, Niuland, Wokha and Kohima affected normal life in five districts. The shutter down passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported.
The otherwise busy markets in all the five districts wore a deserted look as all business establishments downed their shutters, demanding immediate intervention from the state government against the unending menace of taxation, intimidation, unwarranted summons, and harassment meted out to the business community by various NPGs.
Though all medical shops remained shut for the day, the Nagaland Medical Dealers’ Association said normal operations would resume from Saturday.
Speaking over phone, DCCI president Akashe Zhimomi informed Nagaland Post that the trade body had not received any response from the state government despite the cabinet holding a meeting during the day. He asserted that the DCCI would continue with the indefinite shutter down until the state government assured the safety of traders/businessmen.
Akashe claimed that Day-1 of shutter down was very peaceful and successful with no untoward incident.
The one-day shutter down from 6 am to 6 pm in Chümoukedima, Niuland, Kohima and Wokha districts called by Chümoukedima Chamber of Commerce & Trade Association, Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Wokha District Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively passed off peacefully. The trade bodies also pledged their full cooperation with the demands put forth by the DCCI.
KCCI to enforce total shutdown: Kohima Chamber of Commerce &Industry (KCCI) president Kezhazer Angami informed that though the 12-hour shutter down had exempted pharmacies, hotels and bakeries, there would be no such exemptions in the ensuing indefinite state-wide shutdown called by the CNCCI.
Kezhazer remarked that the severity of fund collection drive by the national workers might not be the same as in Dimapur, but added that the business community in Kohima was also facing similar problem from the Naga political groups (NPGs).
“When you are made to part with a good chunk of your profit, it becomes difficult to sustain our businesses. We have to hike prices of commodities and the general public ultimately has to bear the brunt,” Angami explained.
Apart from NPGs, he said donation drives by civil society organisations (CSOs), unions and a host of associations in various forms such as raffle tickets, dinner packs, lottery and concert tickets were also a huge burden on the business community, though it was not as severe as the multiple taxation by the NPGs.
Asked how much they had to pay the NPGs, he replied that there were instances when some traders were detained and forced to pay a hefty amount. But, he said that such traders, fearing for their lives, did not reveal the group that detained them or the amount they paid.
He maintained that the shutter down was aimed at not just ventingout the anguish of the business community, but also to sensitise the general public on the problems faced by the community because of such random donations since the public was at the receiving end. He hoped that this time there would be some positive changes.
“If this is not turned into a public movement, only a section of the society shouting may have less impact. We will approach CSOs seeking their support. We will try to make it a mass movement, he declared.
On the sudden change of the 12-hour shutter down to an indefinite one, especially in Kohima and elsewhere where people were unprepared, Kezhazer said he had discussed the matter with CNCCI, assuring that the latter would assess and give a window period where people would be able to buy essential commodities.
KCCI general secretary Henry Chisüte said the 12-hour shutter down concluded peacefully in the state capital.
He further urged the government to initiate helpline numbers and initiate measures to curb the menace of taxation by the NPGs.
He appreciated the KCCI members for responding to the clarion call and hoped that similar cooperation and supportwould continue as the trade body enforced the indefinite shutter down.
Meanwhile, KCCI office bearers appealed general public to bear with the inconveniences, while urging the trading community not to take advantage of the indefinite shutter down and hike prices of commodities.
They acknowledged that in such circumstances, people tended to hoard commodities and consequently the vendors seized the opportunity to hike prices that affected the common public.
They cautioned that if any such case was detected, they would initiate appropriate punitive action on such vendors.
For any complaint or query, they asked the public to contact the KCCI on mobile phone number 9366403143.