NSF, ENSF to enforce ‘No Tax’ on teachers, institutions

In a significant development, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) have resolved not to allow any form of tax imposition on educational institutions especially teachers within their respective jurisdictions.

Disclosing this at a joint news briefing, outgoing NSF president Kelhouneizo Yhome  and ENSF president Likhumse Sangtam said the resolution was adopted at a joint meeting of the two federations at DUDA Guest House here Wednesday after deliberating on various complaints regarding imposition of tax on teachers and educational institutions by “national workers/organisations and individuals”.

The two student leaders said the meeting deliberated upon various complaints on the two to three decade-old tax imposition on educational institutions and the teaching community.

The meeting Wednesday also resolved all tribal units of the student community, in their respective jurisdictions will undertake measures to check that no such taxes are imposed on the teaching community.

Both NSF and ENSF also further warned, that if any student leaders or leaders of teaching community were intimidated or threatened, by any Naga political groups/organisations/ individual,  such act would be deemed as a “direct challenge and insult” on the offices of the NSF and ENSF and will not be “tolerated by the federations under any circumstances”.

Narrating the genesis of the current issue, the two disclosed that, earlier, after taking cognisance of various complaints regarding imposition of tax, both NSF and ENSF had taken their own respective initiatives in approaching various national workers, organisations not to impose any tax.

They said it was only in 2012, that both NSF and ENSF “came together to fight for a common cause”  and a recommitment for reform of the educational system.

Affirming to work for the welfare of the student community, both NSF and ENSF said they would ensure that teachers as ‘nation builders’ could impart education to the younger generation in a conducive environment.  

It was disclosed, that in 2012, both NSF and ENSF conducted an official tour to meet with all the groups to inform them about the resolution against imposition of tax on educational institutions and teachers.

The national groups assured that the matter would be discussed at their winter session (December 2012). However, there was no response from the national groups, they said.

Instead, in January 2013, teachers were threatened over paying taxes they said and after which, both NSF and ENSF convened a joint session in March 2013 where it was resolved to send a reminder on all national workers to respond positively on or before April 30, 2013.

However, during April , Yhome and Sangtam pointed out, teachers were again served with demand notes and threatened that teachers would be kidnapped if they failed to meet the deadline for  paying tax or be shot with bullets.