DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 10 (MExN): The Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM) today expressed support to “Naga women’s demand” for 33% reservation in ULBs and took exception to the “opposition of the male dominated tribal bodies to giving reservation to women citing customary laws.”
A press note from the ICWM also condemned the “violence used to prevent the polls from being held and the police high handedness that caused the death of two persons.”
It urged the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) to “respect the directive of the Gawhati High Court to allow elections to be held.”
“It is untenable that Naga women be held back from standing for elected office. We therefore call upon the men of Naga society to recognize and value the contribution that Naga women in elected office in ULBs can make towards the betterment of the cities in the State and its environment by their participation in these decision making bodies,” the ICWM stated.
It further called upon the state government to initiate a dialogue between the JCC and women’s groups so that the “constitutionally valid right of women to stand for ULB elections will be acknowledged and accepted and the long standing stalemate in holding local elections will end.”
