Takasungba Imchen
As we reflect on our society, it's clear that mindsets and ideas dictate our actions. The ongoing Reservation Policy in Nagaland can be viewed from two distinct perspectives: firstly, those reserved tribes against scrapping of the Reservation Rights, while on the other, the Unreserved tribes are against the unfair reservation policy over the years. The debate is not about being “Advanced” or “Backward”; it's about equity. Even in Unreserved tribes, there are groups of individuals living a life worse than the Reserved tribes. The whole point is to make the Reservation Policy (Positive Discrimination) based on the socio-economic upliftment of sections of Naga society, and not based on tribal units.
It's incorrect to justify this writing with just an example or imaginary examples, but I'd like to shed light on the broader context of the social reality of all the tribes of Nagaland -NOT ALL ADVANCED TRIBES ARE ADVANCED, NOR ARE ALL THE BACKWARD TRIBES BACKWARD . Each tribe has both. So, labeling a certain tribe as advanced or backward only lacks depth due to the limitations of the approach.
It's said that the government failed to review the Reservation Policy of 1977, which was to be reviewed after 10 years of its implementation. The current agitation by the five Unreserved Tribes is all about the unchecked, unfair Reservation Policy which has been unchanged for decades.
Sadly, friends and people from the reserved category still label themselves as “Backward” and label the Unreserved tribes as “Advanced.” Meanwhile, people from Unreserved tribes, so called Advance tribes must not look down on others just because they are categorized as Backward. Sadly, the labels Advance and Backward is used in every portion and in defining every aspects of our lives which is unfair and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Today BT and non BT categorisation has become more like a INHERITED SOCIAL CLASSIFICATION which in the long run will be very harmful.
The reality is that everything is man-made, and at the end of the day, we are all humans in general and Nagas in particular. Today, many Nagas from the Reserved Category blame the Unreserved, so-called Advanced tribes, for all the negligence in their areas. Were the Advance tribes making decisions themselves? Enough of the blame game; you and I, people in general, are responsible for all the mess.
Gone are the days of “Advanced” and “Backward” society. What people must focus on is scrapping the usage of both “Advanced” and “Backward” and promoting a more inclusive society, changing the mentality of being “backward” or “advanced,” and giving special privileges to sections of society that have suffered from socio-economic instability . Reservation is a necessity for socio-economic upliftment, not a benefit or a political tool.
Let us rise above these labels and work towards a society where every Naga, regardless of tribe, can thrive. Let kindness, empathy, and unity guide us toward a brighter future.
