To,
The Honourable Chief Minister
Government of Nagaland, Kohima
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Address Illegal Deductions From Contractors And Suppliers.
Esteemed Sir,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I’m writing to you concerning a big problem that is plaguing the general development of our beautiful State i.e., Illegal deductions from contractors and suppliers, a few notable examples being; Underground tax (3%-5%) and landowner tax (up to 5%), as well as cuts for Ministers/Advisors (10%), party funds (5%), and mobilisation funds (5%), etc.
I deem these deductions illegal as there is already a tax system that is put in place i.e., The Goods and Service Tax (GST) which these Contractors and Suppliers are paying @18%.
These rampant multi-deductions cause a lot of problems as they make it hard for the concerned people to do their jobs as per the required standards. Sometimes these deductions add up to 40% to 50% of what contractors make thus forcing them to cut corners and compromising on the quality of work to make ends meet. This is a big problem as it affects the livelihood of honest workers like contractors and suppliers, who are really important for our economy.
Moreover, the effects of these deductions are also felt by the general public as most of the times it is the public works that are affected making people lose trust in our system. It is therefore not fair, and it goes against what we believe in about trade and how our government should work.
We should adopt the present Foot Hill Road method of no tips and deduction by Naga Political groups and also no deduction of state taxes for all developmental works. Land owners can be compensated as per the prescribed standards. Lastly, tax or collection can be done after the completion of work and once it starts generating revenue to the stakeholders.
It is therefore an ardent request to your esteemed authority to take this matter up at utmost urgency and put an immediate stop to this cancer that is irreversibly afflicting the development of our State and the people practicing it held accountable. There should be a system put in place to make sure everything is fair and transparent in how deals are made between contractors, suppliers, and the government so that the people’s trust in the Government is regained. It is also very important to set up a system where the public can fearlessly report any form of corruption.
It is high time we put a stop to this culture of corruption and propel our state to new heights. I have the utmost trust and confidence in your leadership that action on this matter will be taken very soon.
Looking forward to seeing positive changes happen soon.
Yours Sincerely,
Sd-
(Bendang Imsong)
Mokokchung
