We have seriously gone through the views and write up on the foresaid subject published in the local dailies. After due deliberation and serious introspection on the subject, we the Tribal Union Chumukedima Town has resolved at the meeting held on 17th March 2012 have no hesitation to support and stand by the views as expressed by the Naga Hoho and ENPO at hotel Japfü on 16th March 2012 in the 33% women reservation. We wish to make it amply clear that our support and solidarity should not be constructed as anti women. There is no denying that any kind of reservation for political advancement based on the gender or religion is wrong and goes against the preamble of the Constitution.
So far as the Nagaland is concerned, in view of the unique social and customary usages, the special protection in the form of Article 371 ‘A’ is provided in the Constitution. But it is unfortunate that our Delhi lawmakers but own law makers at Kohima have ratified and adopted the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 without proper scrutiny either by the select committee of the Assembly or through debates in public forum by the civil societies to ascertain the consequence and the impact that may follow in the days to come. When the Govt. of India and Parliament recognized the unique features of Nagaland for which the Explicit provision like Article 371 ‘A’ was inserted in the Constitution to protect and uphold such unique characteristic of our state, it is most unfortunate and deplorable that the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 was copied from the advanced states like West Bengal, Punjab and Haryana without caring the impact and consequences for having put such Act in our state. Having regards to the population of our state, it has not been explained as to how the percentage of the reservation was arrived at. The so called reservation made in the Act is self defeating to the context of the ratio of the nominee made by the Govt. if such process is allowed, the letter and spirit of Article 371 ‘A’ shall be rendered redundant and in the days to come our state shall be brought at par with other States. To protect the unique system of Nagaland, the Panchayat Raj system was not introduce in our states rather the generation time tested system of Village Council was given the legal entity by an Act in 1978. This clearly reflects the wisdom of our earlier legislature, senior citizens and opinion makers about their concern to protect our social infrastructure and fabric.
To empower the womenfolk, reservation is not the answer for which even for the reservation in respect of women in the legislature/parliament could not be made so far. Truly speaking when there is no unanimity on any issue, it has become a style of the politician to force the issue through reservation for cheap popularity.
In the context of our own, why there should be a reservation for women when our system of governance at grass root level vastly differs with the other areas. Nobody has stopped the women form contesting in any forum like Municipality. Town Council and Legislative Assembly etc. how many women candidates have volunteered themselves so far in filing nomination and contesting election? The statistic itself would reveal the acceptability of women in political activities. In short, our views is absolutely clear that nothing should be forced upon, our time tested social and customary fabric must be preserved and conserved at any cost. We are a small nation, we cannot allow our identity to be disturbed in the name of so called reservation or by whatever name it maybe called. It should be voluntary and through imposition. It is undeniable that apart from State Legislature and the Parliament, the bodies like Panchayat, Town Council and Municipalities are called and defined as ‘Local Self Govt.’ the concept of the local self Govt. dates to the Roman Empire and Civilization. Such bodies should run by the people/citizen regardless of their political affiliation and without discrimination against gender, caste or creed. The established political parties should not infer in the process. It should be entirely left to the common citizen in the context of Nagaland, we are proud to say that our womenfolk are held in high esteem, no discrimination is made in respect of education and they are free to pursue any vocation/profession including political activities. In short, since there is no discrimination against them, they are free to contest even 100% of the seats in such local bodies. In such scenario, where is the scope for reservation and to limit reservation to only 33% when it is 100% is upon for womenfolk.
To maintain the equilibrium and tranquility and so also the status of the Village Councils and Local Bodies, the Act which has been passed must be replaced to maintain Status Quo. We look forward to the Govt. that wiser counsel should prevail on them and they will honour the overwhelming sentiments of the people and repeal the obnoxious Act and pass a suitable law to meet the aspirations of the people to uphold the unique Social and Customary system of governance at the grass-root level.
Khuluvi Assumi
President
Tribal Union Chumukedima Town
Bendangchuba
Publicity & Information Secretary
Tribal Union Chumukedima Town
