KOHIMA — The Nagaland Government has decided to re-examine the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act of 1989, with the possibility of partially lifting the prohibition in certain areas. This issue is likely to be taken up during the upcoming Assembly session.
The decision to re-examine the act was taken during a cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister’s office chamber in Kohima on Thursday.
Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye, who is also one of the state government’s spokespersons, said that the act enacted in 1989 has not been reviewed in all these years.
“After all these decades, I think it's about time that our state also takes a relook. So the government has decided to revisit this particular issue, and depending on the majority views of the members, the government might bring this case up in the ensuing assembly for some amendments,” the minister said.
Asserting that the issue is of grave concern, Kenye pointed out that revenue is a crucial need for the state, which is facing a resource crunch.
Another major concern is the health of the citizens, especially the younger generation, he said, noting that the unchecked, unregulated inflow of liquor with no department to check the quality has become extremely dangerous for society.
“Bootleggers have free rein, with no permits required, and nobody to regulate or check the quality of the liquor being smuggled in. This has given them a very free hand to bring in any kind of liquor, including those unfit for consumption, to be sold within the state,” he said.
“Our church and church leaders have done their best and are doing their best because they understand the menace that liquor creates in society. Unfortunately, they have not been able to educate people sufficiently to refrain from indulging in such activities,” he added.
The minister maintained that the government, particularly the police and excise departments, has also done its best to check the inflow of spurious liquor in Nagaland, which is a dry state.
Emphasising that well-meaning and conscientious citizens, as well as leaders from all walks of life, are concerned about the toll spurious liquor is taking on the health and morale of society, Kenye said that Christian nations across the world have also tried imposing total prohibition, but the results have been the same everywhere: prohibition failed, and Nagaland is no exception.
Kenye pointed out that “We (Naga people) are a Christian state and we're proud of that, but as time goes on, we have to face and admit the vices that exist in any modern society.”
“We are not a theocratic state. We are a free, democratic, liberal state like any other state in the country. So we cannot govern the state solely from one perspective. That is what many people feel,” he added.
The minister was also of the view that the past approach, when there was free movement of liquor, was too liberal.
He pointed out that in cities like Kohima and Dimapur, one can find a liquor vendor every 20 to 30 steps, as there is no regulation, no age limits for customers, and no dry days, even on holidays and Sundays.
Kenye further said the state government has learned a lot from neighbouring states and that there is much work to be done by the concerned department, the police, and society.
“We will try to have a partial lifting of this prohibition in certain areas,” he said, adding that the state cabinet’s discussion was just the tip of the iceberg, as the department will work out more details.
Communitisation in Power sector to be reviewed
Meanwhile, the Power minister also informed that the government will review the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act of 2002 concerning the power policy.
Kenye said that the communitisation of the power policy, where single-point metering and the responsibility to collect power tariffs were given to village authorities, has fared very poorly, especially in urban and suburban areas.
He disclosed that the government will be reviewing the communitisation policy without affecting rural areas.
Highlighting new power policies at the central level and new technologies such as single-point metering and smart metering that are now being implemented, he said, “Considering the losses that the government is incurring, we have identified and focused on urban areas, which is one reason why this (communitisation) might be repealed altogether this time.”
Kenye also informed that the cabinet had discussed service rules, particularly those concerning the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and the Power department for Grade III and IV staff, which have not been reviewed for the last 23 years.
He mentioned that the department, after conducting a thorough study, felt it was time for the government to review and make certain amendments to address the aspirations and grievances of field staff workers, which would contribute to a healthier functioning of the government.
Further, he informed that other regular businesses of the government involving various departments, including several pending cases regarding absorption, regularisation and other matters, were discussed during the cabinet meeting.
It was also informed that besides the NLTP Act, the ensuing assembly session, slated for Aug. 27 and the 29th, will also discuss the Naga political issue.
While the house will have a break on Aug. 28, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has convened a meeting of all the 60 MLAs, the two MPs and the Political Consultative Committees (PCCs) at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima, on that day to discuss the Naga political issue and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for Frontier Nagaland Territory.