Morung Express News
Kohima | August 18
Reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland has been a controversial issue for a long time, with many opining that it ‘impinges on traditions and customs’.
Discussion of reservation for women in ULBs was one of the agendas at the consultative meeting held on August 18 with the tribal bodies initiated by the state government.
“We cannot become prisoners of our traditions, or let them stand in the way of good modern practices to come in,” Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio said in his address, adding that it is fallacious to say that the status of women in Naga society is very good or high, while on the other hand there is a near nil representation of women in the decision-making elected bodies.
Rio said that the state has not been able to hold elections since 2008 with the effort of the government to hold ULB elections in 2017 resulting in a widespread agitation, and unfortunate incidents, leading to serious law and order problems.
A Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted in August 2018 after the incident to study the problem, and suggest ways to resolve the issue was unable to make any meaningful progress in resolving the issue, he added.
As the matter of 33% reservation of women is yet to be resolved, the Chief Minister said the state government was not in a position to comment when the central government has initiated consultations on the Constitution (112th Amendment) Bill to enhance the women reservation of seats to 50% in the municipalities.
Stating that the requirement for 33% reservation of women in the ULBs is embedded in the Constitution of India by the 74th Amendment of the Constitution in 1993, Rio said, “There is no exemption for Nagaland or any of the Northeast states.”
Towards this end, Rio opined, “Everything needs some hand-holding in the initial stages, and so is the women reservation, and as society progresses, new institutions such as ULBs are needed.” He requested the tribal hohos to take the issue of women reservation in ULBs in the right spirit, and to resolve the matter so that elections to ULBs can be held at the earliest.
‘State deprived of funds earmarked for ULBs’
By not holding the ULB elections, the State is deprived of substantial grants under the Finance Commission for under taking various developmental activities, Rio informed, while reasoning that, “Elections will allow for more public participation in governance of our civic body, bring about the much needed reforms, and usher in urban development in our state.”
Deputy Chief Minister, Yanthungo Patton also opined that reservation of seats for women in the ULBs is an important instrument for achieving gender equality.
However, due to the inability in coming to a consensus on this matter, Patton said elections have not been held for the ULBs for a long time. As a result, funds earmarked for the ULBs under the Finance Commission Grants have been suspended.
While the state government has been providing some amount in terms of grant-in-aid every year since 2015-16 onwards to the ULBs, this amount is less and definitely not enough for the towns and cities, Patton said.
“The urban centers are growing at a fast rate and due to lack of resources, the ULBs of the state are facing grave difficulties in providing basic civic amenities and carrying out developmental activities putting our people living in urban areas at a great disadvantage,” Patton added.
‘Women orgs will be invited for future talks’
At a press conference after the meeting, when enquired as to why women organisations and representatives were not invited for the meeting, Advisor of Information and Communication, Science and Technology, NRE, Mmhonlumo Kikon said this is the just the beginning of more consultations, and today’s meeting was held on various issues.
Nonetheless, he said women organisations would be invited for talks in both focus and larger groups in the days to come as this issue need more consultations with all the stakeholders. “Our way forward is to have everyone on board and explore the ways and means,” he added.
Minister for Planning and Coordination, Neiba Kronu, referring to the 2017 incident said, “We have to more careful” on this issue. He also recommended for the state to frame its own modalities and rules which are workable and acceptable and passed in the assembly.
