Mughalu
CTC, Aolijen, Mokokchung
There is nothing wrong with workers organizing themselves to protect their interests. Genuine unions have played an important role in safeguarding livelihoods and promoting justice. But what we are increasingly witnessing is something altogether different: the mushrooming of absurd “unions”—coconut unions, hamook (snail) unions, and countless other associations that seem to exist less for welfare than for collecting money from those who are actually working.
The irony is painful. While ordinary vendors, transporters, farmers, and daily wage earners toil under the scorching heat of Dimapur simply to earn enough for their next meal, a handful of individuals allegedly live comfortably by imposing unofficial fees on those who are doing the real work. They neither grow the coconuts nor collect the snails. They do not transport the goods, nor do they endure the hardships of the marketplace. Yet they often appear to be among those who benefit the most.
Every illegal or unauthorized collection becomes another burden on those struggling to survive. The trader pays. The transporter pays. The vendor pays. Eventually, the consumer pays. It is nothing more than an invisible tax imposed not by law, but by influence.
The most disturbing aspect is the growing perception that some of these organizations enjoy political protection or operate because of their proximity to power. Whether that perception is true or not, it has damaged public confidence. Many citizens now believe that if one has the right connections, one can simply establish a “union,” control a commodity, and begin collecting money with little fear of accountability.
This is not unionism. It is the commercialization of influence. It transforms collective representation into a business model where access, intimidation, and monopoly become sources of income.
If the government genuinely seeks economic growth, investment, and employment, it must dismantle every form of unauthorized economic control. Legitimate unions that represent workers should be protected. But organizations that function primarily as private toll collectors must be investigated, and where laws have been broken, prosecuted without fear or favour.
The people of Nagaland deserve an economy where success comes from honest labour—not from creating artificial monopolies. No one should become wealthy by inserting themselves between hardworking citizens and their daily bread.
The people who sweat in the fields, on the roads, in the markets, and behind small shops deserve dignity and a fair opportunity to earn a living. They should not have to surrender a portion of their hard-earned income to those who contribute little to production yet profit from controlling access to the marketplace. If we remain silent, these syndicates will not only distort our markets—they will gradually weaken the rule of law itself.
