Akangjungla
The August 18, 2021 consultative meeting convened by the Nagaland Government with the tribal hohos kept the State Banquet Hall, Chief Minister’s Residential Complex, Kohima occupied for over six hours. The ‘progressive meeting’ hold a marathon discussion on impending issues including mediation between Zeliang and Sumi tribes regarding boundary demarcation of Peren and Dimapur districts; Women Reservation in ULBs; Naga tribunals for adjudication as per Naga Customary Law; and issue of appointment of Gaon Buras (GBs) in urban areas.
On the issue of 33 per cent reservation for Women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland, the state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio openly expressed regret that “The issue of reservation for women in ULBs has unfortunately turned into an ugly controversy which has drawn sharp emotive reactions” and contentious opinions that the reservation is ‘something which impinges on the traditions and customs’ has led to tragic attempt of the state government to hold ULBs in 2017. Since 2008, Nagaland state has failed to conduct election to the ULBs.
The Wednesday consultative meeting clearly did not bring any solution to the table as it ended in a note for ‘future talks.’ Besides updating on the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted in 2018 which has clearly not made any consequential progress, the voice of the Chief Minister conveying that ‘we cannot become prisoners of our traditions, or let them stand in the way of good modern practices to come in’ can be one of the paths the Naga people can take along to turn around the narratives of this ‘ugly controversy.’
The claim of Naga society to be progressive and modern often contradicts when the power of patriarchy and customary law shuts the door for new discourse and thoughts. With arrival of the 33 per cent reservation issue, the depiction of women in Naga society as educated, second to none and progressive leaders have translated into their struggle to fight for representation and equality. The argument of the tribal bodies to uphold the Article 371(A) of the India Constitution as one granting Special Status to Nagaland to adhere to their customary laws does not justify their rational to object the application of the Article 243(T) of the same constitution which guarantees 33 per cent seats reservation for women within the local political bodies. When the Naga people are still running around the chairs and pulling the rope from both sides, the Centre has already initiated consultations on Constitution (112th Amendment) Bill to enhance the women reservation of seats to 50 per cent in the local political bodies. The Chief Minister admits that Nagaland state is ‘not in position’ to comment ‘as 33 per cent reservation for women in yet to be resolved.’
This ‘ugly controversy’ is a complex topic, one that needs series of inclusive consultations, discussions and debates, which obviously was missing in the August 18, 2021 consultative meeting; Hence, a clear evidence of the traditional structure of the Naga society that for any social or political matters, the importance of equal gender representation has not yet perceived. While addressing the nil representation of women in the decision making bodies, the ‘future talks’ should be able to look beyond the projection of women seen through the lens of traditional law, patriarchy and gender roles. It has to go deeper into factors that deprive women of equal opportunity in all fronts, with or without the reservation.
The task is not to challenge the customary laws and tribal organizations or to condemn the reverence they hold in the Naga culture and institution. Nevertheless, the purpose, unquestionably should be to create a place for ‘the people’ to have an effective voice to build a Naga society which does not speak the language of masculinity but is defined by the values of respect, gender justice and equal rights, and thus collectively arrive to an understanding to move forward towards a time, ‘when there will be no need for women reservation in any elected body.’
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
