5 Tribes CoRRP rejects Nagaland government’s clarification on Reservation Review Commission

DIMAPUR — The 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) has rejected the clarification issued by the Chief Secretary regarding the nomination of civil society representatives to the newly constituted Reservation Review Commission.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the committee said it was “extremely disappointed” with the clarification that civil society organisations (CSOs) were asked to nominate credible persons from their communities and not office bearers of the organisations. It maintained that its demand was for the total exclusion of CSOs from the commission, “be it office bearers or their nominee.”

The committee reiterated its August 9 resolution, which was also submitted to the state government in writing, and described the clarification as an “insult to the collective intelligence of the 5 tribes.”

Also read: Nagaland Chief Secretary clarifies on Job Reservation Commission nominees

“We expect the state government to give us positive response instead of attempting to delay and deny the legitimate demands raised in our representation,” the CoRRP stated, adding that its non-participation in all state government functions and meetings would continue until further orders.

On August 6, the state Cabinet approved the constitution of a seven-member commission to examine and submit a report on the state’s job reservation policy. The commission, to be headed by a retired IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, will include three government officers and one nominee each from the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, Central Nagaland Tribes Council, and Tenyimi Union Nagaland.

Following objections raised by CoRRP, the chief secretary had clarified on Monday that CSOs were asked to nominate credible and qualified persons from their respective communities and not office bearers of the organisations. He explained that the decision was meant to ensure that the views of communities, as key stakeholders, were reflected in the review of the reservation policy.