Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): Naga women today demanded that the Government of Nagaland implement the 33% Women Reservation in the state within one month by holding the municipal elections. Frontal Naga women organizations in the state today wrote a letter to the chief minister of Nagaland reminding him that the government’s excuses are no longer tenable and that modern political institutions such as the municipal and town council institutions have nothing at all to do with so-called customary laws or practices.
Leaders of the Naga Mothers’ Association, Eastern Naga Women Organization and the Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur appended the letter addressed to the chief minister. If the government fails, the women would seek justice by taking an own course of action, the organization said.
The Naga women reminded that the various excuses given by the state government on not implementing women reservation – including not wanting to “disturb the ongoing Naga peace process is not tenable.” This fact stands proven by the recent by-elections in Mokokchung, the organizations pointed out.
The women also reiterated the common sentiment that reservation for women in towns and municipal councils have nothing to do with “customary laws” or practices or even Article 371 A.
‘Fundamental right, not negotiable’
“The Constitutional rights of equality for women, as citizens, are enshrined in the Constitution of India and therefore cannot be superseded or denied,” the organizations reminded the Nagaland chief minister.
“ We reiterate and stand by the representations and demands from various tribe women organizations submitted to the state government, on the implementation of the 33% reservation for women in all town and municipal councils in Nagaland, in accordance with the Nagaland Municipal Act Amendment 2006.”
The said amended Act was passed unanimously by the sixty-member legislators of the Nagaland State Assembly in 2006 ‘who we believe had the best interest of women at heart.’ “Thus, 81 seats have been identified as reserved for women by the government’s own notification. However, it is highly questionable that till date, the state government has failed to implement the amended Act and protect the Constitutional rights of women,” the women frontals stated.
Further, the various excuses given by the state government for not implementing the reservation such as “not wanting to disturb the ongoing Naga peace process” is not tenable the letter stated. This is proven by the recent by-election in the state, they said.
The organizations pointed out that the Nagaland government has blatantly ignored the demands and voices of women on implementation of the 33% women reservation, when they constitute half of the population in Nagaland. The government has seriously violated the constitutional rights of women in the state, the letter reminded. “33 % Reservation of seats in all town and municipal councils in Nagaland has become our fundamental right and therefore, any proposal or move for reducing the percentage of reserved seats for women, is non-negotiable.”
The organizations cautioned – “On behalf of Naga women, we demand that the 33% Women Reservation be implemented in all town and municipal councils within one month by holding the long awaited elections. It has been further resolved that Naga women will be forced to seek justice by taking our own course of action in the event of failure of the state government to implement the said Nagaland Municipal Amendment Act in toto.”
Leaders of the Naga Mothers’ Association, Eastern Naga Women Organization and the Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur appended the letter addressed to the chief minister. If the government fails, the women would seek justice by taking an own course of action, the organization said.
The Naga women reminded that the various excuses given by the state government on not implementing women reservation – including not wanting to “disturb the ongoing Naga peace process is not tenable.” This fact stands proven by the recent by-elections in Mokokchung, the organizations pointed out.
The women also reiterated the common sentiment that reservation for women in towns and municipal councils have nothing to do with “customary laws” or practices or even Article 371 A.
‘Fundamental right, not negotiable’
“The Constitutional rights of equality for women, as citizens, are enshrined in the Constitution of India and therefore cannot be superseded or denied,” the organizations reminded the Nagaland chief minister.
“ We reiterate and stand by the representations and demands from various tribe women organizations submitted to the state government, on the implementation of the 33% reservation for women in all town and municipal councils in Nagaland, in accordance with the Nagaland Municipal Act Amendment 2006.”
The said amended Act was passed unanimously by the sixty-member legislators of the Nagaland State Assembly in 2006 ‘who we believe had the best interest of women at heart.’ “Thus, 81 seats have been identified as reserved for women by the government’s own notification. However, it is highly questionable that till date, the state government has failed to implement the amended Act and protect the Constitutional rights of women,” the women frontals stated.
Further, the various excuses given by the state government for not implementing the reservation such as “not wanting to disturb the ongoing Naga peace process” is not tenable the letter stated. This is proven by the recent by-election in the state, they said.
The organizations pointed out that the Nagaland government has blatantly ignored the demands and voices of women on implementation of the 33% women reservation, when they constitute half of the population in Nagaland. The government has seriously violated the constitutional rights of women in the state, the letter reminded. “33 % Reservation of seats in all town and municipal councils in Nagaland has become our fundamental right and therefore, any proposal or move for reducing the percentage of reserved seats for women, is non-negotiable.”
The organizations cautioned – “On behalf of Naga women, we demand that the 33% Women Reservation be implemented in all town and municipal councils within one month by holding the long awaited elections. It has been further resolved that Naga women will be forced to seek justice by taking our own course of action in the event of failure of the state government to implement the said Nagaland Municipal Amendment Act in toto.”
