Labour, Skill Development & Employment, and Excise adviser Moatoshi Longkumer cited shortage of manpower as a major obstacle in the implementation of Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 in the state.
He was responding to a reporter’s query on the easy availability of liquor in the state, especially in Dimapur, during his interaction with the media on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) office here on Friday.
Referring to his remarks made during the recent Nagaland Legislative Assembly session, Longkumer reiterated that the Excise Department’s limited personnel — 40 posts out of the 336 remained vacant — made it difficult to manage Dimapur, let alone the entire state. He called for additional resources and manpower to enforce the NLTP Act effectively.
Asked on the fate of the NLTP Act amidst discussion in the NLA recently, he replied that the file concerning the Act was currently with the cabinet, appealing all to be patient and wait for the cabinet’s decision.
Longkumer maintained that when one talked about spirituality, drinking alcohol was not the only sin, pointing out that gluttony and love for money were sinful acts too.
He suggested that society should not focus solely on alcohol when considering moral failings.
Asked whether he had any advice for the Church, which had been vocal in its opposition against lifting of the NLTP Act, he mentioned that he had no advice for the Church.
He said he left that to the public because all were stakeholders — the legislature, churches, and public. He emphasised reaching a public consensus on the matter.