Nagaland MP Neiphiu Rio appeals to all sections to come together to a meeting point for society to move forward in unison
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 19 (MExN): Nagaland State Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio on Saturday voiced concern that the ongoing tussle over the implementation of the 33% reservation for women in municipal and town council elections has created a crisis where the State Government and the people are moving in different directions.
While the State Government has announced that elections to urban local bodies will be held with implementation of women reservation, the Naga hoho, other tribal hohos, civil societies, mass based organisations and NGOs have expressed their resentment and opposition to the implementation of women’s reservations asserting that it goes against the spirit of Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution. The issue in question is still unresolved in the Supreme Court.
The Nagaland MP, in an appeal, said all sections must come together and there must be a meeting point so that “our society can move forward in unison.”
He said the view of the tribal hohos and mass based civil societies, which had objected to the conduct of municipal elections along with the implementation of women reservation on the contention that Article 371(A) will be infringed upon and that the special protection will be overridden, should not be undermined.
“We must understand the fact that the tribal hohos, mass based organizations and civil societies are the guardians of our traditions, customs and rich cultural heritage. We must appreciate their role and contributions in our society and give due respect to their wisdom and guidance,” Rio maintained.
He also said the chairman and members of the Assembly Select Committee in their recommendation to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had also observed that the implementation of women’s reservations will impinge upon Article 371(A).
The MP further reminded that the special privilege and protection that the citizens of Nagaland are accorded by the Constitution of India is hard earned and has come at the cost of the blood and tears of the Naga people.“We should never allow it to be jeopardized in any manner, but rather, all sections of Nagas, irrespective of any affiliation, should come together and strengthen the special protections and privileges for the sake of the present and future generations.”
Rio has therefore suggested that the State Government should take the confidence of the hohos, the mass based organisations, traditional institutions and the women’s group and review the September 22, 2012 unanimous resolution of Nagaland Legislative Assembly and incorporate the various other issues which have been raised by the tribal hohos.
Further, he opined that an amicable and mutually acceptable out of the court settlement should be worked out in line with the Naga traditional way of resolving issues and “pass our own act as stated in the Assembly resolution of September 22, 2012.”
At the same time, Rio also urged the tribal leaders to initiate a process where the hohos and traditional institutions work out a formula to accommodate women representatives in policy making and leadership positions which would naturally include municipal and town councils.
He said this will pave the way for “our culture and traditions to adapt to the changing times and modern realities and at the same time ensure that we move ahead and overcome the present crisis under a spirit of understanding and not through imposition.”
Rio also clarified that when he was the Chief Minister, the decision not to implement reservations for women in urban local bodies was taken through an assembly resolution that was necessitated due to strong resistance and opposition from the tribal hohos, mass based civil society organisations, NGOs and traditional institutions.
He also asserted that all the “honorable members of the House had equal opportunity to express their opinions and views after the Select Committee submitted its recommendations” and after deliberations and discussions, the assembly resolution was passed unanimously.
