Mon Area Students' Union backs Konyak Students' Union on job reservation reform

DIMAPUR — Mon Area Students' Union (MASU) has come out in support of Konyak Students' Union (KSU) representation, demanding urgent reform of the state job reservation policy based on population ratio.

In a press statement, MASU said that it stands in firm solidarity with the KSU in its representation dated June 13, addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, calling for a comprehensive review of the state job reservation policy to reflect population ratio and socio-economic realities.

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“The Konyak community, the largest recognised tribe in Nagaland, comprises a population of 2,50,260 as per the 2011 Census, constituting 12.65% of the state's total tribal population,” the statement read, adding that despite this, the current reservation framework fails to reflect the actual demographic and developmental challenges faced by the community.

MASU said that Mon district, which is predominantly inhabited by the Konyak tribe, continues to suffer from deep-rooted socio-economic deprivation, as evident from the lowest literacy rate in Nagaland at 56.99% (2021 Census); poorest human development indicators, as reported in the Nagaland State Human Development Report (2016); highest number of educated unemployed; lack of connectivity; and poor basic services and infrastructure.

It said that the job reservation structure, implemented in 1977 and revised in 1979, 2008, and 2011, has not kept pace with the growing disparities or the needs of larger backward tribes like the Konyaks and noted that this has led to continued neglect, deep frustration among the youth, and unequal representation in government sectors.

MASU echoed KSU's demands for an immediate review and reconstitution of the existing job reservation policy and the adoption of a population-based reservation system that ensures just and proportional representation for all backward tribes in Nagaland.

Stating that the socio-political neglect of the Konyak tribe must no longer be sidelined under outdated and imbalanced policy structures, the union urged the government of Nagaland to take immediate steps to restructure the reservation system in line with population data and development indices.