•-The Naga people especially the womenfolk are grateful to NMA, the Dimapur Naga Women Hoho and like-minded organizations for having successfully fought for 33% women reservation in the municipal bodies in Nagaland. Indeed it is women’s finest hour for the simple fact that even the Indian Parliament has not been able to settle this issue but our untiring and visionary Naga Women leaders have won us a great victory which hopefully will result in real women emancipation. However, it is real disappointing to learn that instead of the democratic process of elections, our women leaders have chosen to ‘select’ councilors to DMC and other municipal bodies which defeats the very purpose of 33% reservation. So a question arises as to whether the 33% reservation is for the already ‘selected’ women only? There are hundreds of women who can do justice to society if given a chance but if arbitrary ‘selections’ through political connections or for reasons of social standings and wealth is the criteria, we are not only undermining the democratic process but we’re also showing to the world that Naga women are no better of than the men who tried their best to deny us our voice in society for which we fought in the courts and won.
Most honorable Gauhati High Court has already directed the State government to hold elections to the municipal bodies by March 2012 and the state election commission is already working accordingly. However, it is found that none of the present DMC Advisors as well the other Advisors in other municipal bodies have resigned from their posts. In the light of the above, it is clear that DMC is violating norms of democratic elections where they have to resign atleast three months before the due elections. Since, the DMC members are still in office, it is pertinent to ask the State government whether election is really slated for March and if the answer is yes, then why are the Advisors still holding their post? If the government is serious about upholding the image of Dimapur as the gateway of Nagaland, it needs to seriously keep in mind the voices of its citizens and in the context of DMC, it means that the Advisors should not be allowed to break rules and contest elections under the present format or else there is every possibility of the elections being not free and fair.
Most honorable Gauhati High Court has already directed the State government to hold elections to the municipal bodies by March 2012 and the state election commission is already working accordingly. However, it is found that none of the present DMC Advisors as well the other Advisors in other municipal bodies have resigned from their posts. In the light of the above, it is clear that DMC is violating norms of democratic elections where they have to resign atleast three months before the due elections. Since, the DMC members are still in office, it is pertinent to ask the State government whether election is really slated for March and if the answer is yes, then why are the Advisors still holding their post? If the government is serious about upholding the image of Dimapur as the gateway of Nagaland, it needs to seriously keep in mind the voices of its citizens and in the context of DMC, it means that the Advisors should not be allowed to break rules and contest elections under the present format or else there is every possibility of the elections being not free and fair.
Bendang Jamir, Ward No-9
