Tura, May 31: In an absolute shocker, an NGO from the West Garo Hills region has raised questions on the Taxation department of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) after it continued to provide a Trading for Non Tribals (TNT) licence to hawkers selling allopathic medicines.
The matter came to light on Tuesday after the NGO, viz. Durama Imbama Norimbi Dikkimbi A’chik Magiparang (DINDAM) visited the weekly market at Garobadha in South West Garo Hills (SWGH) where they were shocked to see hawkers selling allopathic medicines to people.
What was even more shocking is that in the same market, there were not one but at least three such hawkers doing the rounds of the market in Garobadha. What is even more baffling is the fact that all three of these hawkers were from the state of Assam (Mankachar).
“We were informed through an anonymous call about hawkers selling allopathic medicines in the weekly market. They were selling these to unwitting villagers, acting as the doctor to prescribe such medicines without any form of authority from any of the department concerned except for a TNT from the GHADC,” said DINDAM founding member, Jaynie Sangma.
The activist questioned the right of the GHADC to issue medical distribution licences for hawkers, without even an iota of thought of the implications it could have on the general public.
The NGO also expressed its shock at the neglect and apathy by the Taxation department for something as serious as medicines.
“When we visited the market, we were shocked to find not one but many such shops being operated mostly by hawkers from the state of Assam (Mankachar). They were openly selling medicines, acting as doctors and recommending medicines for various ailments to the unknowing public. We feel this is possibly the first time in the country that such illegal acts have been allowed to prosper with such impunity. These hawkers have no authority or permissions to operate from the various departments but shockingly have been given TNT licences by the Taxation department of the GHADC, which has no authority on the sale of medicines,” informed the social activist.
“What is the point of getting so many clearances and licences to open a pharmacy when you can get hawking license. This is ridiculous to say the least and sets a very dangerous precedent. When we visited the drug inspector at Ampati, she too was shocked by what was happening and promised to look into the matter immediately,” Sangma added.
The DINDAM questioned as to how the GHADC was able to give medical licences for hawking when even homeopathic medicine prescription required authorised personnel.
Meanwhile in its complaint to WGH Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani on Wednesday, the NGO stated that these illegal acts by both the hawkers as well as the GHADC has left them with no choice but to ensure such people are not only acted upon but are also not allowed to go scot free for what is a clear violation of the law.
The DINDAM added that Garobadha was just the tip of the iceberg as this practice was prevalent in almost all the weekly markets, where hawkers were given a free hand at being doctors and pharmacists just so that the GHADC coffers can be filled.
“Most villages are unknowingly buying these medicines. This not only is a health hazard and illegal in nature, it has the potential to become catastrophic in nature. No law of the land, we are sure, allows for medicines to be sold openly without consultation, prescription or legal sanction by authorities,” added the NGO.
Maintaining that the scenario was scary and needed to be immediately addressed, the NGO said, “We believe the GHADC – Taxation is working hand in glove with these illegal vendors and as such need to be hauled up for their act of omission and commission in the sphere of public health.”
Meanwhile, attempts to contact the Drugs Inspector of SWGH were unfruitful as calls went unanswered.
