JACWR says women empowerment is real grudge for those opposing polls
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 23 (MExN): The Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) today lamented “it is now obvious” that the “real grudge” of those opposing the upcoming ULB polls “is the question of empowering their women through reserved seats in these municipals and town councils.”
A press note from the JACWR reached this conclusion as it pointed out that the NLA has omitted sections regarding house and land taxes and reservation for scheduled castes from the Municipal Act.
“The series of objections from respected tribe organisations over the past days, ranging from taxation of land and house, customary laws, customary practices, Article 371A, has finally culminated in clear statements opposing reservation for women and seeking further review and amendment of the Municipal Act,” the JACWR said It meanwhile stated that the ULB polls “is not a hasty decision of the Government” but the directive of an interim relief order given by the Supreme Court on the April 5, 2016 to the petitioners. It also urged “lawyers who have been misinterpreting that this case has not been heard, to check the Supreme Court Cause List of 5th April 2016, which was listed for ‘Final Hearing’ and hence the Interim order to hold elections and implement women reservation.”
The JACWR termed it “shocking” that provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act have been “misinterpreted by vested interests, to the innocent villagers in many communities, whereby they have been made to believe their very existence is being threatened by an Act which is meant to develop towns, with no jurisdiction whatsoever over villages.”
It pointed out that elected councillors will be the decision makers and utilise the development funds and not the government, as per the Act. “It is an empowerment of Urban Local Bodies of which women councillors are a mandatory part of the system,” the JACWR said.
It expressed concern that Naga women’s right to participate in the electoral process has been “violated by the bandhs, threats and use of force in the towns where candidates, including women were unable to file their nominations or forced to withdraw their nominations.”
“Our voices are being muffled by unprecedented unchristian methods of destruction of private property of candidates, banishment and excommunications of candidates, including women candidates and leaders by Tribe Organisations,” the JACWR said.
It called upon the state government to protect the rights of its citizens and all intending candidates and ensure that the democratic process for electing the various town councils and municipalities are strictly held on schedule. It also urged tribe organisations to “allow the democratic right of each citizen to elect good, capable leaders who will bring proper development of their towns in various parts of the state.”
