Day three of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) and Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LMCP) department’s week-long “National Consumer Day” was observed at NVCO office Kohima on December 20.
A press release by NVCO press and media cell stated that, NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi presented public services delivery as per the Central Act stating that every citizen was entitled to hassle-free public services and redresses of his grievances. Accordingly, he said that the Right to Public Services Act represents the commitment of the particular state towards standard, quality and time frame of service delivery, grievances redressal mechanism, transparency and accountability. Savi also said that currently, public officials and civil servants were considered as one of the troubled sections of society due to their slow and painful process in performing their duties. As a result, the common man, who is entitled to avail hassle-free public services and information thereof, has to face a lot of problems and pay bribes to avail the needed public services, he added.
Savi pointed out that, the Model Public Service Law is to cover functionaries providing important social services like education, health, rural development, etc, and commit them to their duties and for that purpose, legislative department has attempted a tentative Bill titled the Public Services (Protection and regulation) Bill. He said that the common framework of the state legislation includes, granting of “right to public services”, which are to be provided to the public by the designated official within the stipulated time frame. While some other states like Madhya Pradesh has enacted the Right to Service Act, Savi said that Nagaland state government was yet to enact the Act/law “which is found to be very much application to the state and to clean up the system to ensure smooth delivery of services to the people and crack down on erring officials”. He also appreciated the department of Commerce and Industries, Nagaland for introducing the Right to Public Services.
On December 19, programme was held at the office of Nagaland State Consumer Helpline, D-Block, Kohima. Kezhokhoto Savi presented the functions of Nagaland state consumer helpline with toll free 1800–345–3701. Savi said that the consumer helpline provided counselling on all products and services and developed a data base information relating to the state and that it was an alternate consumer dispute redressal mechanism which was functioning through a tool free telephone 1800–345–3701 where citizens call and seek information or guidance for his/her day to day consumer problems.