A rare joint fellowship between the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and the Nagaland Legislators Christian Fellowship (NLCF) in Kohima on February 1 turned into an unusually frank exchange on the long-contested Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, exposing institutional fatigue, mutual blame, and unresolved contradictions in its implementation.
Held at the State Chapel Hall and attended by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, legislators, NBCC executives and their spouses, the gathering was formally a devotional service. Yet it soon evolved into an extended deliberation on why the NLTP Act continues to falter nearly four decades after its enactment.
The NBCC reiterated its long-standing position that the Act requires stricter and more sincere implementation, pointing to structural failures such as the non-constitution of the State Prohibition Council and District Prohibition Committees since the law’s inception. The Church leadership also flagged legal loopholes that allow offenders to escape through monetary penalties, along with chronic manpower shortages and outdated infrastructure in the Excise department.
In a notable admission, the NBCC acknowledged that the Church itself had “slept over” the Act by confining its advocacy largely to clergy circles, and indicated a renewed effort to involve lay leadership.
The Church framed alcoholism not only as a public health issue but as a moral crisis rooted in personal and social choices.
Legislators, on the other hand, highlighted the unchecked inflow of spurious liquor, the scale of organised syndicates, enforcement challenges, and revenue losses linked to prohibition. Some legislators suggested that the Act itself may require re-examination.
However, the deliberation laid bare a deeper institutional divide. The Church expects full implementation of the law, viewing the government as the sole authority responsible for maintaining order. The government, on the other hand, appears to expect greater collaboration from the Church in enforcing the Act. While legislators spoke at length about the inflow of spurious liquor, organised syndicates, enforcement challenges and revenue losses, the broader complications of implementation including lack of resources and manpower, non-cooperation from communities, conflicting public opinion, and the failure of past regulations and communitisation efforts were not comprehensively addressed.
Chief Minister Rio reportedly reminded participants that the NLTP Act was a joint moral and political commitment of both the Church and the government, calling for shared responsibility rather than blame. Suggestions were made to form a smaller committee to carry the dialogue forward.
The deliberation concluded with a shared recognition that, regardless of whether the ban is retained or revisited, stricter implementation and clearer authorization of police, legal and excise personnel are urgently required. The meeting ended with prayers for the Chief Minister and the legislators, alongside a commitment to continue the dialogue.
The report was shared by Dr Villo Naleo, Secy, Social concern (NBCC) and Rev Dr Mar Pongener General Secy, NBCC.