The All Commercial Vehicle Owners’ Association (ACVOA) from Mokokchung, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Longleng, Phek, and Peren Districts has announced an indefinite “chakka bandh” from November 3 starting at 5:00 AM, in protest against the Nagaland government’s failure to fulfill its previous assurance of disbursing payments related to the 2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) election held way back in February. This renewed strike reflects a deep sense of frustration among commercial vehicle owners, who are now left with no choice but to take to the streets to demand what is rightfully theirs.
The saga began when the ACVOA initially announced a “chakka bandh” slated for October 9, protesting the government’s delays in clearing payments for services rendered during the NLA election. The strike was temporarily suspended after the government assured that “all the bills will be cleared for payments on or before October 31, 2023.” However, even after 22 days, the government has not released the payments and promises remain unfulfilled. The aggrieved party has expressed its collective disappointment, highlighting the government’s betrayal of trust, and rightly so.
The government on November 2 sanctioned Rs 11,62,00,000 and one is made to wonder why it wasn’t sanctioned earlier. The ACVOA has said that it will continue the bandh until the sanctioned amount is disbursed and delivered to them. Their skepticism is understandable, considering their past experience of assurances that were not honored. The ACVOA’s protest is justified. The Nagaland government has failed to keep its promise to the commercial vehicle owners. This delay in payment has caused financial hardship to the vehicle owners. The government’s excuse of the Chief Minister’s absence in the state and his visit to New Delhi is not convincing. The government should have made arrangements to clear the payments even in the absence of the CM.
The Nagaland government should immediately release the sanctioned amount to the ACVOA and resolve the issue as soon as possible. The government should also take steps to ensure that such delays in payments do not happen in the future. The government needs to be more accountable to the people and keep its promises. It is also important for the government to be transparent in its dealings with the public. Citizens and associations should not have to resort to indefinite strikes to ensure that their demands are met. While it is essential for a government to have its administrative priorities, it is equally crucial that it respects its obligations and commitments to its citizens.
The government should learn from this experience and take steps to improve its governance, and that governance and fiscal responsibility must go hand in hand. The govt must prioritize addressing the legitimate concerns of its citizens promptly and transparently, as prolonged strikes disrupt public life, lead to economic losses, and create an environment of distrust. In this particular case, it is imperative that the govt not only releases the sanctioned amount but also takes measures to prevent such situations from arising in the future. Transparent, timely, and reliable governance will ensure that such protests become a thing of the past and that citizens can have faith in the institutions meant to serve them.