After seeing a social media post on the formation of Nagaland Ambulance Association, where some of the Ambulance Owners and drivers didn’t like the idea, I am penning down this article to encourage our people to be very cautious, brave and be very mindful of fake news and rumours.
To form any Union/Association is individuals’ decision; if we go against it we may become a violator. But we should know that whoever wants to join these kind of Union/Association is individual decision and they don’t have any authority over other members who does not want to join these Union/Association, and whatever terms and conditions are made by Union/Association will be for their members only and it cannot be applicable to non-members. When we face these types of situations, if we remain silent or if we don’t file any FIR against the Union/Association, we will be the main destroyer of the world.
In Nagaland, Taxi Union/Association has their own Union/Association; however, even Government guidelines do not make it mandatory to register everyone who is driving a taxi. And if you did not register under Taxi Union/Association, you cannot be bound by their guidelines; also no one can say that only people who have registered under Taxi Union/Association shall drive a taxi as taxi permits are being provided to the individuals but not to the Union/Association. However, if one does not register under Union/Association, one should know that during any kind of emergency or insurgency tax it will be alone only.
Also, Union/Association are rich and as of that, if they purchase land and make parking space, one cannot park their taxi at their place. However, at Government road where RTA/RTO allotted parking space for Taxi, one can park there even if one is not registered under Taxi Union/Association, through RTA/RTO information may be provided to Taxi Union/Association however it does not mean that Taxi Union is the owner.
From my experience let me give an example. I was driving someone’s zonal taxi from 2008-2009, at that time on the way if any faction stops the taxi and ask for my Taxi Union ID card, I used to reply, “I’m not a member of Taxi Union and if you want to search it as a guidelines then I shall file a FIR against you” to them.
Right now, I’m a business man in Kohima but I’m not a member of Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI). They once came to my shop for KCCI collection, and I was told that it was for all the shops, so I replied, “it is a voluntary association, so I will not be a part of it.”
Forming of Union/Association is a good idea so keep forming it. However, these are for voluntary people only; whoever does not wish to join it they will not join in, and those guidelines are for their members only but not for members who are not a part of it.