Business establishments in Changtongya Town under the aegis of the Business Union, Changtongya Town (BUCTN) have started indefinite downing of shutters beginning Saturday, May 14. The decision to this effect was taken by the BUCTN at its emergency meeting on Saturday in protest against “resumption of Saturday Bazaar.”
In a representation to Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung on May 14, the BUCTN said that when it learnt from a reliable source that the weekly market (Haluating Bazar) was about to resume from April 16, the union officials deliberated on the matter on April 13 and submitted a representation to the concerned Administration opposing its resumption. BUCTN said that its main motive is to “promote and encourage local entrepreneurs post COVID-19” pandemic. BUCTN also sought the “consideration and earliest necessary action” of the DC to redress the issue.
“Subsequently, the SDO (C) Changtongya convened a combine meeting of Gaonburas, All Ward Union, and BUTCN on April 26 to discuss to issue but no amicable solution could be made,” BUTCN said. It further said that the concerned Administration SDO (C) assured the BUCTN that the matter would be “resolved during the next combine meeting which he will convene at the earliest.”
However, the BUCTN stated that the SDO (C) Office totally ignored the union and issued an order on May 12 informing of the resumption of the weekly market.
Consequently, the BUCTN’s May 14 representation, appended by its President, Imsuyanger and General Secretary, Chubawati informed the DC Mokokchung that the union resolved to ‘Down All Shutters’ of all the business establishments under Changtongya Town indefinitely beginning May 14 until a concrete and decisive decision is reached upon.
Meanwhile, president of BUCTN, Imsuyanger, told Mokokchung Times on Sunday that the administration has called for a joint meeting to be held Monday morning and that their next course of action would depend on the outcome of the meeting. He also expressed regret that the administration was not interested in supporting the BUCTN’s motive of promoting local entrepreneurship.