Kohima, February 5 (MExN): In the face of mounting patriarchal opposition, the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has stood firm and reiterated that it will not be dissolved “on the direction of outside forces,” and that its work of being a “Voice for the Voiceless” on women’s rights and social issues will continue.
“The NMA was founded in 1984 by a group of committed Naga Mothers for social changes and till today, we carry on the vision and work for peace and social change, without any compromise or favour,” stated the NMA in a press release it was compelled to issue today after multiple tribe-based women organizations in Nagaland State were pressurized to withdraw from the NMA.
The Association objected to the statement from “a respected body” alleging that the NMA has “lost direction and the confidence of the people.”
The NMA reminded that the legal case taken up on the women reservation issue had been with the “full support and consent” of the NMA tribe units, the Watsu Mungdang, Tenyimia Women Organisation, Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation and the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur under the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR).
In the successive consultative meetings held with the Naga Hoho, ENPO on December 12, 2016 and another on December 19, 2016 with the different tribe bodies in the APO Hall, the JACWR had made its stand known to the apex bodies that the JACWR “stood for reservation and democratic election and not nomination, which was offered to the women leaders,” noted the press release.
The decision of the JACWR not to be able to withdraw the Special Leave Petition (SLP) at that point of time was conveyed to the leaders. However, given the “compulsive situations faced by the women, the JACWR later agreed on withdrawal of the SLP in the interest of peace in the society,” it stated.
For those who continue to express disbelief that the petition for withdrawal of the SLP has been submitted to the Supreme Court, the NMA informed that “the Petition for withdrawal of the Civil Appeal and the Writ petition in the Supreme Court has been duly filed in the Supreme Court on the 30th January 2017, and a copy given to the respondent party, which is the State government. Anyone can cross check the Supreme Court website and verify the Petition by the two petitioners.”
Accordingly, the decision to dissolve the JACWR was taken on February 1.
