Dimapur, March 20 (MExN): Naga women organizations are preparing to set up consensus candidates in all the wards reserved for women in the 19 Municipal/Town Councils and await the declaration of election dates by the State Election Commission. A consultative meeting was held by Joint Action Committee for Women Reservation (JACWR) with all the apex tribe women organizations and the NMA units, and it was resolved to request the State Government to provide all necessary arrangements for women to participate in the coming Municipal/Town Council elections and ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.
A representation letter was issued by Abeiu Meru, President of NMA and Convener of JACWR, and addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio seeking immediate attention to the mater. The women organizations, in the letter also stated that the Legislators of Nagaland Legislative assembly should honour their word and stand by the Nagaland Municipal Council First amendment Act, passed by them which has guaranteed 33% reservation of seats for women. Also, it stated that the decision of the Naga Hoho and the ENPO requesting for necessary amendment of the said Act based on land holding system and that it has gone beyond the Article 371 (A) is not tenable and misleading, as Reservation for women in local and urban decision making bodies of the Panchayati Raj and Municipalities has been guaranteed through the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution, which supercedes Article 371 (A). Further, reservation for women in Municipal and Town Councils as per the said Act, has no connection with land holding systems or customary laws of the Nagas, it stated.
The letter further stated, “Naga women are confident that the State Government will honour the judgment order of the High Court in Toto and protect our rights by adhering to the stipulations of reservation of seats for women and ensure that elections in April to the Municipal and Town Councils are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner”.
