As part of the seminar on the topic ‘Atrocities against women’ held recently at Kohima, the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) has issued a 25-point recommendation pointing out the need to take several measures to ensure the well being of women in Naga society. Coming to the long list of demand put forth, the State government should take steps to meet at least those points which are feasible and possible within the short term. As one can observe from the list of recommendations, the area of policing must be improved upon. It is not that funds are a constraint. It seems to be that we are lacking in evolving creative solutions and also the will to take initiatives on reforms. Most of the demands on policing can all be undertaken along with the police modernization programme. The police administration should be sensitized on taking up these measures. Likewise the recommendation for introducing a separate CID (Crime Investigation Department) is also a novel one and can be seriously considered. Similarly the other recommendations such as Women Cell Police Station in all District Headquarters, these are all possible and can be done in a step by step manner.
Off course the women groups must understand that all the recommendations are not necessarily all possible at least in the short term. It will take time to put everything into place. Those that are possible should be pursued upon, which hopefully will be acted on while some of the recommendations will require educating the masses especially the menfolk and creating awareness on bringing about reforms in our tradition and customs. Women groups should not expect everything to change overnight. The process has started but the fulfillment of its recommendation will take time. Similarly some of the suggestion such as forming vigilante groups of youth to protect their colonies/villages against crimes and assisting the police, this is not very sensible because we know the danger when such youths take law into their own hands leading to mob violence and unnecessary conflict situation.
Coming to the contentious issue of reservation for women whether in the legislature, municipals or village councils, the discourse over the last two or three years have become more divisive. According to all indication it is just a matter of time before we see our women folk participating in decision making. Instead of 33% reservation through elections, the government is proposing to nominate women to these local bodies. This is not such a bad idea as long as the process of nomination is done in a fair and transparent manner. It will be interesting to see the respond of our women to such a proposal. And since fighting elections with women pitted against each other can become divisive, costly and corrupting, it will be better if, to start off with, the proposal to nominate women could be a better option at this juncture.
Then off course there is also the demand for amending the Village and Area Council Act to ensure women representation in decision making in villages with 33% reservation in village councils for gender parity. The State government has also been told to appoint women Dobashis and Gaon Buras. Whether the recent women seminar has taken note or not but some of the village councils are already giving representation to women. For instance, the Sema Tila Council has decided to implement 33% women reservation in the Council’s body, the first in the State. Another village in Dimapur (Naharbari) has a woman as the Village Council Chairperson while Xukhepu in Zunheboto has a woman Secretary of its Village Development Board. Such kind of voluntary action of our men folk must be encouraged. If we can change mindsets, the question of 33% quota for women in Naga society will not be so contentious after all.
Off course the women groups must understand that all the recommendations are not necessarily all possible at least in the short term. It will take time to put everything into place. Those that are possible should be pursued upon, which hopefully will be acted on while some of the recommendations will require educating the masses especially the menfolk and creating awareness on bringing about reforms in our tradition and customs. Women groups should not expect everything to change overnight. The process has started but the fulfillment of its recommendation will take time. Similarly some of the suggestion such as forming vigilante groups of youth to protect their colonies/villages against crimes and assisting the police, this is not very sensible because we know the danger when such youths take law into their own hands leading to mob violence and unnecessary conflict situation.
Coming to the contentious issue of reservation for women whether in the legislature, municipals or village councils, the discourse over the last two or three years have become more divisive. According to all indication it is just a matter of time before we see our women folk participating in decision making. Instead of 33% reservation through elections, the government is proposing to nominate women to these local bodies. This is not such a bad idea as long as the process of nomination is done in a fair and transparent manner. It will be interesting to see the respond of our women to such a proposal. And since fighting elections with women pitted against each other can become divisive, costly and corrupting, it will be better if, to start off with, the proposal to nominate women could be a better option at this juncture.
Then off course there is also the demand for amending the Village and Area Council Act to ensure women representation in decision making in villages with 33% reservation in village councils for gender parity. The State government has also been told to appoint women Dobashis and Gaon Buras. Whether the recent women seminar has taken note or not but some of the village councils are already giving representation to women. For instance, the Sema Tila Council has decided to implement 33% women reservation in the Council’s body, the first in the State. Another village in Dimapur (Naharbari) has a woman as the Village Council Chairperson while Xukhepu in Zunheboto has a woman Secretary of its Village Development Board. Such kind of voluntary action of our men folk must be encouraged. If we can change mindsets, the question of 33% quota for women in Naga society will not be so contentious after all.
