Imphal, Feb. 8: A group called the Rongmei Lu Phuam (Rongmei Women Organisation) of ‘Assam, Manipur and Nagaland’ has expressed support to the chief minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang-led government for the 33 percent of women reservation in urban local body elections of the state.
The expression of support comes amid a time when a recent meeting of apex tribal bodies in the state had reportedly decided on a demand that Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang should step down within a period of three days with effect from Wednesday.
The RLP expressed support to the Nagaland chief minister ‘in the legitimate stand for the 33 percent of women reservation’ amid protests by organizations in connection with the urbanlocal body elections, said the group’s President Panti Gonmei in a press release here.
Claiming that the Naga people have ‘rich traditions with the highest esteem of regard towards women,’ the release asserted that the community uphold women as “Mother earth” (Kandi apui) “Motherland” (Apui Kandi) and all things based on women ‘that the universal women liberation convention of Mexico, 1975 gave strong message for all nations.’
The government of India and the government of Nagaland should be encouraged in the run up towards women empowerment, it said.
Informing that the RLP also endorsed the support of the Naga Mothers’ Association on the issue of women reservation, the organization appealed to the tribal bodies and ‘any politicized elements if any’ to reconsider their opposition ‘for the sake of national and international approach to women empowerment toward the ultimate global order.’
“The world is now a global isolate from the global village. We cannot stand isolate. Let women quota be applied once and for all,” it added.
