Students and faculty of Baptist College Kohima and Sechü Campus pose with the resource persons.
KOHIMA, AUGUST 3 (MExN): The Department of Sociology, Baptist College Kohima and Sechü Campus organised the second edition of its Sociological Dialogue on August 2 on the theme “Rethinking Reservation Policy of Government Employment in Nagaland: Balancing Equity and Rights.”
Held at the college premises, the dialogue featured Renthungo C Humtsoe, Assistant Professor and Research Scholar in the Department of Political Science, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Jakhama, and Vingosale Chüzho, Educator, as the resource persons.
Humtsoe acknowledged that the reservation policy in Nagaland had opened pathways to education, employment and representation for marginalised tribes. However, he questioned whether the policy, in place for 48 years, had truly achieved its intended goals.
He said Nagas should move away from defining advancement solely by the number of government servants and instead focus on empowering marginalised communities through scholarships, better infrastructure and educational facilities, coaching centres and fulfilling basic needs.
“What was relevant in the past may not be the same in the present,” he said, while stating that reservation should be based on need, not tribe, in order to uplift disadvantaged communities without compromising fairness for others.
Chüzho, in her address, gave an overview of the reservation policy, personal reflections, and suggestions for review. She maintained that while reservation is necessary for some sections of society, the existing policy needs to be reviewed using statistical data, socio-economic indicators, and by considering the introduction of tribe-wise sub-quotas.
She said the delay in reforming the policy may breed resentment and is denying justice to citizens.
The programme began with a welcome address by Vincent Kent, Head of the Department of Sociology, and included a special song by T Yemchühenla of BA 3rd Semester. The session was moderated by Dr. Videkhono Yhokha, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology.
Dr. Yhokha also gave an overview of the background and sequence of events since the inception of the reservation policy, and highlighted the reform movement initiated by the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP).
The dialogue concluded with an interaction and Q&A session with the speakers. Students of the 3rd and 5th Semester Sociology majors and faculty members from both campuses participated actively in the event.
