•-The dissensions that were brewing in the Naga house over job reservation for the backwards have come to the fore over the issue of Special Recruitment Drive for 10(ten) EAC posts. Reservation on general, was itself a bone of contention between the forwards and the backwards and when, even the nominal reservation was grudgingly borne, this special arrangement gave the last stroke to go ‘hammer and tong’. In the denouement that followed, the backward class and the ever undeserving section had to show the statesmanship and the privileged class has the walk-over again. But as always happened, this episode is going to leave its own indelible mark in the long march of Naga family in future.
Nagaland is an island in the sea of Naga-land and came into being to solve certain political exigencies by adding those areas thitherto living under a separate administrative arrangement. These groups unfortunately, happened to fail behind by about a century in modern day advancements and that legacy is suffered to this day. We are common only in the feeling of Nagahood. In attainments and enjoyment of privileges, there is a vast gap just like in education, economy and socio-equanimity. To the forwards, it is the day of the third generations but for the backwards, it is the first generations stretched to the third with much of missing links. The open field that was available to the earlier generations of the forwards was no more available to those who come later in terms of employment and thereby occupancy and economic well being to further provide better educational leverage. Meanwhile, the eligibility standard has been raised and the backwards with weaker foundations happen to be no match to them. Tribe-wise and block-wise employment statistics shows it all.
We appreciate the Government at various times to have provided the Reservation Policy. However, this is seen to be practiced in few forums only and there is no strong mechanism in place, to ensure implementation down and up the line. These days, all service appointments other than Gazetted and Semi-Gazetted posts, are required to be done with the approval of the Govt. only and the outcome thereof, you can well imagine. Disclosures of vacanaies were done only once after the mass retirement of aged employees, that too, much went hidden. Now, III & IV grade posts go to the indigenous inhabitants of the districts where they occur. Expect for the few directorate posts that may occur, there are no posts that will be reserved. So, reservation will remain only a matter of principle and merely a bone of contention.
Let us seriously ponder the import and the portent of such irreconcilable situation for the Naga family in the future and work towards bringing a semblance of unity and harmony.
Nagaland is an island in the sea of Naga-land and came into being to solve certain political exigencies by adding those areas thitherto living under a separate administrative arrangement. These groups unfortunately, happened to fail behind by about a century in modern day advancements and that legacy is suffered to this day. We are common only in the feeling of Nagahood. In attainments and enjoyment of privileges, there is a vast gap just like in education, economy and socio-equanimity. To the forwards, it is the day of the third generations but for the backwards, it is the first generations stretched to the third with much of missing links. The open field that was available to the earlier generations of the forwards was no more available to those who come later in terms of employment and thereby occupancy and economic well being to further provide better educational leverage. Meanwhile, the eligibility standard has been raised and the backwards with weaker foundations happen to be no match to them. Tribe-wise and block-wise employment statistics shows it all.
We appreciate the Government at various times to have provided the Reservation Policy. However, this is seen to be practiced in few forums only and there is no strong mechanism in place, to ensure implementation down and up the line. These days, all service appointments other than Gazetted and Semi-Gazetted posts, are required to be done with the approval of the Govt. only and the outcome thereof, you can well imagine. Disclosures of vacanaies were done only once after the mass retirement of aged employees, that too, much went hidden. Now, III & IV grade posts go to the indigenous inhabitants of the districts where they occur. Expect for the few directorate posts that may occur, there are no posts that will be reserved. So, reservation will remain only a matter of principle and merely a bone of contention.
Let us seriously ponder the import and the portent of such irreconcilable situation for the Naga family in the future and work towards bringing a semblance of unity and harmony.
