Morung Express News
Kohima | September 27
Terming as ‘poll plank and divisive,’ the recent ‘in principle’ decision of the state cabinet to accord 25% job reservation for six tribes of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng out of the 33% shared by nine tribes, a student’s public rally in the state capital today demanded total review of the existing reservation policy. Organized by the Chakhesang Students’ Union, Pochury Students’ Union and Zeliangrong Students Union, the rally strongly demanded equal and fair reservation through proportionate enhancement to the three tribes.
The three apex students’ organizations, who wrote to the Nagaland governor for his intervention in the matter, said that they are not against the ‘benefits gained’ by the so-asserted six “eastern” tribes. The organizations termed the government’s decision to implement the policy disproportionately as ‘unfair and injustice’. The three tribal student communities also demanded that if the state government decides to reserve a 25% job reservation for the six tribes of the said four districts, the Chakhesangs, Pochurys and Zeliangrongs should also be treated with the same yardstick. Proportionate enhancement should be accorded to maintain parity and justice, adding that while conceding to the pressures, the state government should not victimize other similarly-placed communities or persons.
Several speakers at the rally accused the state government of attempting to stir up misunderstanding amongst tribes by trying to rectify the policy without proper consideration. A representation submitted to the state governor also cautioned that any solution rendered ‘demagogically’ without taking the over all realities would be counter-productive and self-defeating.
“We are not opposed to any just and reasonable decision made by the state government to uplift the conditions of the backward tribes, however, we do not believe in temporary and piecemeal solutions,” the representation said. The representation also said that the existing reservation policy have placed the Nagas into two simple categories, “advanced” and “backward.” Worst, there is no provision to check further divide of the tribes under the same category until such time the policy is overhauled.
It also said that the existing policy of 33% job reservation policy for the nine backward tribes in the state of Nagaland enacted in 1979 has been in effect for the last more than three decades without any review. It actually requires review at an interval of ten years to update in consonance with changes to fully realize the policy’s target.
It is also to help those that are educationally and economically very backward and have insignificant representation in the services, so that they too can come at par with the tribes. The policy needs thorough review to address the anomalies and discrepancies with the change of time. Without looking into the empirical realities, it is not fair to categorize the entire citizens if a linguistic division or tribes as backward or advance, the representation further reminded.
The three students’ organizations also demanded that the review committee should be directed to investigate conditions of socially and educationally backward areas and examine the grass-root situation of different areas in the state so as to deliver fairness and justice to the citizens.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and its federating units have extended their support and solidarity to the demand of the three tribes. NSF vice president, Charles Lotha, who addressed today’s rally urged the state government to consider the issue seriously and categorically demanded for total review of the whole reservation policy.
The major federating units of the NSF, which included the Lotha Students Union (LSU), All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK), Rengma Students’ Union (RSU) and the Angami Students’ Union (ASU), have also extended support and solidarity to the demand of the three tribes for total review of the reservation policy. The Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO), Zeliangrong Union Kohima (ZUK) and the Pochury Public Forum (PPF) also spoke at the rally.
