Kuzhovesa Soho
Kohima | November 26
A delegation of Chakhesang legislators, Chakhesang Public Organization, Chakhesang Students’ Union leaders and senior citizens met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at his official residence early this morning in Kohima and submitted a representation seeking immediate consideration and implementation of a proportionate ratio of Backward Tribe reservation quota to all the 9 tribes.
While appreciating the move of the state government to review the existing job reservation policy, the delegation noted the government’s notification of 1977. The delegation stated that the notification dated January 11, 1977, stipulated 25% of all non-gazette, non-technical posts under the government of Nagaland to be reserved for members of seven tribes who are “educationally and economically very backward and had insignificant representation in the services, for a period of 10 years”. The tribes are the Chakhesang, Konyak, Sangtam, Phom, Khiamniungan, Chang and Yimchungers. The number of tribes was increased to eight with the inclusion of the Zeliang tribe, the delegation reminded. The reservation was then enhanced to 33% on 16th August, 1979 and subsequently the number of BTs increased to nine with the bifurcation of the Pochury tribe from the Chakhesang tribe. The Pochury tribe was then included in the reservation list on March 24, 1994.
The reservation policy had placed all the nine tribes in the same category till the cabinet in its sitting on June 12 and the13th, 2008 divided the BTs into two categories of reservation with class. The six tribes from the four districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng were suddenly given a huge 25% and the other three excluded tribes (Chakhesang, Pochury and Zeliang) were left with a mere 8%. “The decision of the cabinet has indeed created a huge disparity and discrimination and has evoked tremendous reaction from different sections with shock and resentment”, the representation reminded the CM.
“It is well aware that 33% job reservation for the 9 BTs in the state of Nagaland is aimed at helping those tribes that are educationally and economically very backward and are insignificantly represented in the services of the state, so that they too can come at par with the advanced tribes” the Chakhesang delegation stated.
Further, the team stated, the existing policy of 33% job reservation for the nine BTs in the state of Nagaland has been in operation without any major review which otherwise requires a review at the interval of 10 years to be updated in consonance with the changing times. This is to fully realize the entire reservation policy to do away with ambiguity and to update with the changes and is imperative to have periodic reviews of the policy to achieve its objective, the representation reminded.
Expressing its resentment over the ‘abrupt cut in percentage of the reservation’ without proper study by the committee, the representation urged the chief minister to rationally review the policy to suit changes with time. Also expressing discontentment, the CPO and the CSU felt that generalizing entire communities or tribe as “backward” or “advanced” is unfair. Because, areas under the same community may not necessarily fall in the same situation both educationally and economically, the Chakhesang civil society reminded.
“Some BTs may be equal or even better than some advanced tribes who otherwise should be placed in the advance category… there is no guarantee to say that the advanced will remain advanced or backward to come at par with those advanced tribes may depend on the situation at that particular period of time”.
The Chakhesang leaders had this word for the CM: “Without prejudices, allow us to say that some areas of Chakhesangs, Zeliangs, Pochurys, Changs, Sangtams etc may even in a better situation than some particular areas of Sumis, Rengmas, Angamis, Lothas and so on.”
Expressing serious concern, the representation urged the government to conduct a spot study by certified technical experts, of all the Naga tribes in order to appreciate the progress and achievements made so far by the competent commission. This is to evaluate and research the situation on ground to work out the methodology and basis of general review, the Chakhesang leaders stated.
However, in the event of the state government deciding to maintain the reservation of 6 BTs in the 4 districts to 25%, the other tribes which are similarly in the same category should be given equal and proportionate reservation till such time a total review is completed to effect rational changes” the leaders said. The delegation assured that the Chakhesang community will continue to strive for justice and equality.
