The Nagaland Cabinet has hinted of partial lifting of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act,1989 and said likely to be discussed during the Monsoon Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Minister for Power and State Spokesperson K.G. Kenye informed this while speaking to a section of reporters on Thursday, after the Cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister’s office chamber here in Nagaland Secretariat, Kohima.
Minister K.G. Kenye asserted that there is a lot of work to do, wherein the department, the police and the society have to regulate it with strict regulations and limits. “We will try to have a partial lifting of this Act in certain areas. The department will work out the details how it will be implemented,” added the Minister.
Kenye informed that the Cabinet have decided that it was time to relook and revisit this issue and depending on the majorities views of the members it might even be discussed in the Assembly session for some amendments.
The Minister raised concerns on the revenue area which the state is losing due to the NLTP Act however, he said what is more concerning is the health of the citizens especially the younger generation.
“The unchecked, unregulated inflow of liquor in the state and with no department to check the quality of the liquor, this has become extremely dangerous for our society,” he said, adding that the Government has also done its best to check the inflow of spurious liquor in the state and everyone including the leaders of the state are very concerned on the toll it is taking on the health and the moral of our society.
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The Minister was also of the view that although the Church have and are doing their best because they understand the menace it creates in our society however, he said unfortunately the Church have also not been able to educate the people to refrain from indulging in such activities.
Further, he said Christian states all over the world have tried banning/imposing total prohibitions of liquor in their states and countries but it is the same story, it has failed and Nagaland is no exception.
“We are a Christian state and we are proud of that but now as time and life goes on, we have to face and admit the vices that exist in any modern society. We are a free democratic liberal state like any other state in the country and the world. So, we cannot govern the state with only one aspect,” he stated.
