Civil Society Organizations and the NLTP Act, 1989: A critical analysis of liquor prohibition in Nagaland

Abstract: Following the enactment of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act in 1989, Nagaland became the third state in India to impose a statutory ban on alcohol. This legislation was introduced largely due to the advocacy of civil society organizations (CSOs), such as the Naga Mothers’ Association and prominent church groups like the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, despite minimal political commitment from the state government. However, liquor remains readily accessible, particularly in the districts of Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland, which collectively have a population of approximately four lakh. This widespread availability has fueled growing skepticism about the effectiveness of CSOs in enforcing the NLTP Act. While the role of CSOs in social and political advocacy has been widely studied, their specific contributions to the implementation of this Act remain underexplored in academic literature. Using qualitative research methods and purposive sampling, this study relies on personal interviews with CSO leaders to examine their roles, with a particular focus on Sumi CSOs, in enforcing liquor prohibition in Nagaland. The findings reveal that CSOs have largely failed to fulfill their mandate in ensuring the Act’s effective implementation, raising critical questions about their capacity and approach in the context of liquor prohibition enforcement. Keywords: Prohibition, liquor, NLTP Act, Nagaland, CSOs. Title: Civil Society Organizations and the NLTP Act, 1989: A critical analysis of liquor prohibition in Nagaland Author: K Tohuto, Dr. Somingam Mawon International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 12, Issue 4, October 2024 - December 2024 Page No: 349-355 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 03-December-2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14264156 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/civil-society-organizations-and-the-nltp-act-1989-a-critical-analysis-of-liquor-prohibition-in-nagaland