Consumer rights groups in Nagaland asked to protect its citizens

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 7 (EMN): Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection (LMCP), Pukhayi Assumi, expressed displeasure about the lack of awareness among the Nagas of ‘what they eat and drink’ and rely only on imported goods which are not organic. He cautioned that such callous attitudes could eventually lead to sickness and destroy the economy.

He was speaking at the 3rd foundation day of Consumer Rights Organisation (CRO) on January 7 at Western Chakhesang Hoho Building, Chakhesang Colony, Dimapur.

Stressing on the importance of organic products, he said Nagas have sufficient resources but do not know how to produce themselves. He cited that in the olden days, Nagas never bought goods from outside but depended on their own production for sustenance adding that there were not much health issues. On the contrary, he stated that at present the society is growing but do not know how to produce themselves and depend on all the essential commodities from outside.

He, therefore, appealed to the consumer societies in Nagaland to be sincere in their duties in order to protect the people and consumers and educate the people especially in the rural sectors.

“Our government should know how to protect its people and as an organisation, we should retrospect what is our achievement and how much we have done, which is the main issue for our people’, he said.

While assuring all possible assistance from the government to protect and help NGOs with required facilities, he also urged the organisations to give their best service to the consumers. He also asked the consumer societies to bring their achievement report to the department every year, so that the government could give the available facilities to them.

Delivering the keynote address, CRO president James Jungio mentioned that they have been working relentlessly to fight against corruption and to make aware of the rights of the consumer since its inception on January 7, 2019.

He added that CRO, in collaboration with the district administration and law enforcing agencies, has been monitoring the market prices on all commodities in the last two years.

On receiving several complaints on price rise in the market, Jungio stated that CRO had verified the authenticity of the complaints and settled the issues. He added that even during the nationwide lockdown, CRO had actively checked the prices in the markets in all the districts besides distributing relief materials.

He further stated that the organisation, in collaboration with the state government and the department of LMCP, planned to organise consumer rights and protection awareness campaigns in all the 12 districts and sub-divisions for 2021-2022.

An official from the LMCP department also spoke on the occasion, while the media co-ordinator, Aseto Zao, presented a song. Associate pastor of Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church, Vishiho Shohe, invoked God’s blessings, while Abeni Tsopoe proposed the vote of thanks.

Government officials, CRO unit presidents, representatives from the Muslim Council Dimapur and civil society organisations attended the programme.