On 33% Women Quota, Sano Vamuzo says Naga Society Should Move Ahead With The Times
1. The NSCW is actively involved in the demand for 33% reservation. In your opinion Ma’am, why do we Naga woman need reservation?
A: I will answer that question with an example. Look at Arunachal Pradesh, they got statehood much later than us and look where they are now. Their advancement is in leaps and bounds, they already have successful women politicians in fact women there are actively involved in the decision making level and all that has been possible because of reservation. Enough said.
2. But Ma’am, we are from a traditionally patriarchal society. Do you think this 33% reservation will disturb the very fabric of our society as some tribal hohos claim?
A: Let me inform you that we are not the only patriarchal society in the north east or in the world. If others can implement it why can’t we….you see we have to move ahead with the times. We may draw examples from the past but the past cannot dictate the future. I read somewhere that at the national level the central government is implementing 50% reservation starting from the Panchayat/ Village Council level. Where are we going to be then?
3. Not only some tribal hohos but even certain sections of women are against it. How would you like to exhort these women, Ma’am?
A: I am aware of that fact. You see we women have been dominated for so long that we are now used to it. Some of us are not aware of our rights. In fact this demand is our legitimate and democratic right. Those women who are against this reservation could have grown up in privileged homes where they were treated at par with the men folk but not every woman is that fortunate. Reservation is our democratic right and the time has come for us to claim what is lawfully and legally ours.
4. Okay Ma’am if things do work out and we get our 33% reservation, do you think we actually have women who are politically matured enough and who will have the caliber to deliver on an equal footing with men? And while we are on that, what about the woman’s role at home then?
A: We have instructed all the women organizations in all the districts to carefully select their candidates and be ready. To this end I would like to add that not every woman is born or meant to be a leader, we are all called to fulfill different roles, not every woman is educated or knows her rights…hence the need for reservation again. I want to make one thing very clear here, we are not advocating that a woman neglects her home or her role as a wife/mother. In our counseling sessions we always stress on the importance of family. One thing has to be made clear here, we are not advocating men versus women. Its not a war or a power struggle. We women should not think that we are in the hands of our men. We are all in God’s hand. It is biblical you see, the woman is supposed to respect the man and the man is to honor and love the woman, but the concept gets confusing and often misinterpreted in our times.
5. Ma’am, there is also the doubt that ‘elected woman’ could easily become ‘puppet on strings’ given that we women usually are influenced by the men folk especially when it comes to political matters. If our elected women representatives become puppets that would totally defeat the very purpose of reservation. What is your opinion about such a scenario?
A: See, this what I mean when I say that we women are so used to being controlled by the men folk that it has become a habit. This is again why we need reservation, so that we may have a platform where we can voice our thoughts and our opinions without any interference. Not all women are leaders but every woman is a leader in her own circle. We have to educate our women, education and awareness is the need of the hour because not every woman is aware of her right.
6. Ma’am, the NSCW must be dealing with a lot of cases relating to injustice/abuse of woman. We have been hearing and reading a lot about atrocities against women, it is no stranger to our society anymore. In very brief can you suggest some ways to curb the menace?
A: We women are economically weaker, of course we have very successful women too but the majority does not enjoy that privilege. This is one reason why certain sections of men think that they can get away with anything. Violence also has its foothold in the belief that one has the right to exercise control over the other. As a result some men have learnt to express their anger and insecurity through violence. It should be the duty of all and not only women to check atrocities against women. In Canada and European countries, growing numbers of men and boys have come out to make a difference. These are those who clearly see the prevalence of prejudice against women around them and have decided to be the change they want to see. One such movement started in 1991, where a few men in Canada decided they had a responsibility to urge their fellow men to speak out about violence against women. This was how the White Ribbon Campaign started with a personal pledge by each person, to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. The movement has spread to 55 countries and is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. It focuses mainly on educating men and boys on ending violence against women. The NSCW launched its White Ribbon Campaign last year, in which Mr. Alemtemshi Jamir, the Addl CS and Development Commissioner became the first person in Nagaland to wear a white ribbon as part of the campaign. Here let me add, the very fact that we are being denied our right to reservation is in itself a form of violence. Whenever the issue of reservation comes up, men use Article 371 (A) to close the door but I want to point this out that Article 371(A) and reservation is not connected. I read in your paper about a poll, the question was whether women should be given reservation and 69% said ‘no’, you see it is because of this ‘nos’ everywhere that we need reservation, we are only asking for a passage to reach the decision making level and then we may be able to do something concrete about all this atrocities being committed against women.
7. While we are on the topic of ‘atrocities and abuse’, what about the recent ‘dress code dikdat given by the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur? Ma’am do you think that this is right and will this bring down the rate of crimes against women?
A: Let me answer you this way, we have to dress according to our environment. I read in your paper about this Naga designer who said that you cannot dress like you are in New York and walk the streets of Kohima. I don’t mean to say that rape is justified if the victim was dressed ‘inappropriately’, NO, not at all. The intention of the NWHD was good but maybe it was brought out in the wrong manner. Overall their intention is for the benefit of women, I tell you these people also deal with a lot of cases and maybe they just got fed up of the whole issue because most cases (not all) of rape etc happen unfortunately when the victim is dressed ‘provocatively’. But let me make myself very clear that I am not blaming the victims, it is just statistics, sad but true!
8. One last question Ma’am, I heard that the GBs are totally against a woman becoming DB (Do Basha/Bashi) though they are warming up to the idea of a woman GB. What do have to say to this?
< strong>A: First of all, this issue has come up because of only one reason- Ignorance. Many people do not know history and make statements. The post of these GBs and DBs is a creation of the British, a post created out of necessesity. Now how can we claim it to be a part of our customary laws? The British never said that a woman should not be GB or DB. There is no need for confusion on this matter. Let me inform you that we have already had a woman GB and that too during the British Raj, she was from Ighanumi village. You see it is not a new concept; in fact this issue is as old as history. There is absolutely no need for all this arguments and confusion now. History has already gone and done it, who are we to fight now?
A: I will answer that question with an example. Look at Arunachal Pradesh, they got statehood much later than us and look where they are now. Their advancement is in leaps and bounds, they already have successful women politicians in fact women there are actively involved in the decision making level and all that has been possible because of reservation. Enough said.
2. But Ma’am, we are from a traditionally patriarchal society. Do you think this 33% reservation will disturb the very fabric of our society as some tribal hohos claim?
A: Let me inform you that we are not the only patriarchal society in the north east or in the world. If others can implement it why can’t we….you see we have to move ahead with the times. We may draw examples from the past but the past cannot dictate the future. I read somewhere that at the national level the central government is implementing 50% reservation starting from the Panchayat/ Village Council level. Where are we going to be then?
3. Not only some tribal hohos but even certain sections of women are against it. How would you like to exhort these women, Ma’am?
A: I am aware of that fact. You see we women have been dominated for so long that we are now used to it. Some of us are not aware of our rights. In fact this demand is our legitimate and democratic right. Those women who are against this reservation could have grown up in privileged homes where they were treated at par with the men folk but not every woman is that fortunate. Reservation is our democratic right and the time has come for us to claim what is lawfully and legally ours.
4. Okay Ma’am if things do work out and we get our 33% reservation, do you think we actually have women who are politically matured enough and who will have the caliber to deliver on an equal footing with men? And while we are on that, what about the woman’s role at home then?
A: We have instructed all the women organizations in all the districts to carefully select their candidates and be ready. To this end I would like to add that not every woman is born or meant to be a leader, we are all called to fulfill different roles, not every woman is educated or knows her rights…hence the need for reservation again. I want to make one thing very clear here, we are not advocating that a woman neglects her home or her role as a wife/mother. In our counseling sessions we always stress on the importance of family. One thing has to be made clear here, we are not advocating men versus women. Its not a war or a power struggle. We women should not think that we are in the hands of our men. We are all in God’s hand. It is biblical you see, the woman is supposed to respect the man and the man is to honor and love the woman, but the concept gets confusing and often misinterpreted in our times.
5. Ma’am, there is also the doubt that ‘elected woman’ could easily become ‘puppet on strings’ given that we women usually are influenced by the men folk especially when it comes to political matters. If our elected women representatives become puppets that would totally defeat the very purpose of reservation. What is your opinion about such a scenario?
A: See, this what I mean when I say that we women are so used to being controlled by the men folk that it has become a habit. This is again why we need reservation, so that we may have a platform where we can voice our thoughts and our opinions without any interference. Not all women are leaders but every woman is a leader in her own circle. We have to educate our women, education and awareness is the need of the hour because not every woman is aware of her right.
6. Ma’am, the NSCW must be dealing with a lot of cases relating to injustice/abuse of woman. We have been hearing and reading a lot about atrocities against women, it is no stranger to our society anymore. In very brief can you suggest some ways to curb the menace?
A: We women are economically weaker, of course we have very successful women too but the majority does not enjoy that privilege. This is one reason why certain sections of men think that they can get away with anything. Violence also has its foothold in the belief that one has the right to exercise control over the other. As a result some men have learnt to express their anger and insecurity through violence. It should be the duty of all and not only women to check atrocities against women. In Canada and European countries, growing numbers of men and boys have come out to make a difference. These are those who clearly see the prevalence of prejudice against women around them and have decided to be the change they want to see. One such movement started in 1991, where a few men in Canada decided they had a responsibility to urge their fellow men to speak out about violence against women. This was how the White Ribbon Campaign started with a personal pledge by each person, to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. The movement has spread to 55 countries and is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. It focuses mainly on educating men and boys on ending violence against women. The NSCW launched its White Ribbon Campaign last year, in which Mr. Alemtemshi Jamir, the Addl CS and Development Commissioner became the first person in Nagaland to wear a white ribbon as part of the campaign. Here let me add, the very fact that we are being denied our right to reservation is in itself a form of violence. Whenever the issue of reservation comes up, men use Article 371 (A) to close the door but I want to point this out that Article 371(A) and reservation is not connected. I read in your paper about a poll, the question was whether women should be given reservation and 69% said ‘no’, you see it is because of this ‘nos’ everywhere that we need reservation, we are only asking for a passage to reach the decision making level and then we may be able to do something concrete about all this atrocities being committed against women.
7. While we are on the topic of ‘atrocities and abuse’, what about the recent ‘dress code dikdat given by the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur? Ma’am do you think that this is right and will this bring down the rate of crimes against women?
A: Let me answer you this way, we have to dress according to our environment. I read in your paper about this Naga designer who said that you cannot dress like you are in New York and walk the streets of Kohima. I don’t mean to say that rape is justified if the victim was dressed ‘inappropriately’, NO, not at all. The intention of the NWHD was good but maybe it was brought out in the wrong manner. Overall their intention is for the benefit of women, I tell you these people also deal with a lot of cases and maybe they just got fed up of the whole issue because most cases (not all) of rape etc happen unfortunately when the victim is dressed ‘provocatively’. But let me make myself very clear that I am not blaming the victims, it is just statistics, sad but true!
8. One last question Ma’am, I heard that the GBs are totally against a woman becoming DB (Do Basha/Bashi) though they are warming up to the idea of a woman GB. What do have to say to this?
< strong>A: First of all, this issue has come up because of only one reason- Ignorance. Many people do not know history and make statements. The post of these GBs and DBs is a creation of the British, a post created out of necessesity. Now how can we claim it to be a part of our customary laws? The British never said that a woman should not be GB or DB. There is no need for confusion on this matter. Let me inform you that we have already had a woman GB and that too during the British Raj, she was from Ighanumi village. You see it is not a new concept; in fact this issue is as old as history. There is absolutely no need for all this arguments and confusion now. History has already gone and done it, who are we to fight now?
