Dimapur, Jan. 6 (EMN): Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has strongly condemned the behaviours of some butchers in Kohima town in cheating the consumers/buyers particularly by manipulating in the weighing scales.

The deceitful activities of the butcher came to light on January 3 after its president Kezhokhoto Savi along with his wife purchased certain amount of pork from a butcher shop situated at Sukrozie/BOC market next to KP Bethasda Hospital Building, Kohima.

NVCO press release stated that the butcher initially refused to satisfy the buyers on being asked to prove fairness in the weighting scale saying that he should earn certain profit by doing unfair means. It stated that weighing scale became accurate only when an extra metal measuring more than 300 grams, which was tied to the top end, was shifted to the other side.

It stated that Savi had collected the extra metal used for unfair means and warned the butcher not to continue the illegal practices.

It recalled that KMC had raised the rate of pork from INR 180 per kg to INR 200 per kg with an assurance that the butchers would be honest to consumers especially in their measurement/weightment.

NVCO has appealed the concerned department, district administration and KMC to take actions against the butchers who are cheating the consumers on short weightment, charging prices above the prescribed rate and not allowing the buyers to take their own choice of meat.

NVCO had recently observed the week-long ‘National Consumer Day’ in Nagaland highlighting the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make the consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities, particularly in the rural areas.