Naga students against insurgents taxing educational institutions

Dimapur (Nagaland), July 9 (ANI): Student bodies and teachers in Nagaland are now openly raising their voices against Naga insurgent outfits trying to collect illegal taxes from educational institutions.

Naga outfits take away two percent of the monthly salary of teachers as tax along with other funds from the school.

This tax is illegal and teachers are appalled.

They loose on their hard earned income for no fault of theirs. It hampers their monthly budget as well as their capability to impart stress free education.

Teachers want an end to it.

A teacher, Zanyi, said: "Many of the teachers are really suffering and we are having a tough time. It would be very kind if the factions can understand our problem and they can exempt us from the taxation, we would be very thankful to them."

Recently, the Naga Student Federation and the Eastern Nagaland Students Federation appealed to all the Naga outfits to stop levying illegal taxes on educational institutions.

Kelhouneizo Vhome, President, Naga Student Federation, said: "I appealed to all individuals and all the organizations not to disrupt any educational institute because we want them to be free and running smoothly."

Student associations of the state are supporting this cause. Such activities lower the standards of education in the state that sometimes force the students and teachers move to other cities.

Dimapur-based student Christopher said: "The public is ready to back the Naga Students Federation in the best possible way."

The money that the insurgents procure through these illegal taxes is used for training cadres, buying weapons and funding other terror agencies.

People want an end to all this and want to see their state to progress. They want their children to be able to compete at advanced levels. (ANI)