Five Nagaland tribes set to launch protests over Reservation Policy

Members of the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy, along with representatives from apex tribal bodies and frontal organisations, pose for a group photo following a consultative meeting at the Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) hall in Chümoukedima on Saturday. (EM Images)

• DIMAPUR — The Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy—comprising Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho—has decided to stage peaceful protests in a phased manner, as the 30-day deadline given to the state government expires on May 26.
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• The announcement was made by the committee convenor Tesinlo Semy on Saturday during a press conference held the Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) hall, Chümoukedima, following a consultative meeting of the five tribe’s apex bodies and frontal organisations.

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• Semy said that the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy had submitted a representation to the state government on September 20, 2024, requesting a review of the reservation policy. However, the government did not respond to their appeal.
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• Consequently, the committee issued an ultimatum to the government on April 26 which is set to expire on May 26, he added.
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• In light of the government's silence on their memorandum and ultimatum, the committee decided to stage phased peaceful protests, he informed.
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• The committee’s member secretary GK Zhimomi noted that Nagaland’s reservation policy, introduced in 1977, was initially slated for a 10-year period.
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• However, the government failed to review the policy in 1987 and instead, in 1989, an order was issued stating that the reservation would continue until further notice, and the order has been in effect ever since, he said.
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• Zhimomi also stated that in the past too, student bodies had submitted detailed memorandums to the government, particularly addressing issues such as internal reservation, duration of the reservation, multiple benefits, and creamy layer. However, for reasons best known to the government, these issues remain unaddressed to this day.
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• Additionally, a memorandum submitted to the chief minister on September 20, 2024, with regard to Nagaland Job Reservation Policy, has not solicited any response from the government even after seven months, Zhimomi added.
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• He also informed that the core demand of the committee is to either scrap the reservation policy altogether or allocate the remaining unreserved quota to the five tribes.
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• He went on to state that now it is up to the government to present its own policy and from there, the committee will assess its impacts.
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• Clarifying that they are not against any tribe benefiting from reservation, Zhimomi insisted that a review is overdue as the policy has continued for 48 years.
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• When asked about the proposed phased agitation, he said the five tribes would first hold peaceful protest marches in their respective district headquarters, followed by a peaceful dharna at the Nagaland Secretariat in the second phase.
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• When asked about Advisor of Elections and Tribal Affairs H Tovihoto Ayemi's statement that the government is working on the matter, he responded that the government's messages are contradictory. He pointed out that Power Minister and government spokesperson KG Kenye recently said there would be no policy review until the Census is conducted.
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• Further, with the Census already overdue since 2021 and with no clear timeline for the next Census, the committee’s member secretary asserted that they cannot afford to wait any longer.