Dimapur, March 7 (EMN): In an interesting turn of events, a signature campaign initiated by two Naga women – addressed to among others, the prime minister of India – has ‘requested’ the government of India to “refrain from granting exemption to the state of Nagaland from Part IX A of the Constitution if such application is put forth.”
The two Naga women, Dolly Kikon and Inotoli Zhimomi, emailed copies of the representation to the local newspapers on Tuesday.
Besides the prime minister, the representation was addressed to the chief minister of Nagaland, Nagaland State Commission for Women, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (India), The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Commission on the Status of Women, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs.
In the representation, it was informed that 735 persons living across “North America, Australia, India, Canada, Europe, and the African nations” had signed the petition. “We write to bring to your attention the current campaign for the implementation of 33% reservation for Naga women in the urban local bodies (ULB),” it stated.
According to the representation, the signatories ‘appeal to the Naga community and the respective state and central government bodies to recognize the importance of a gender inclusive political participation.’ Given the political and society history of Naga society, all the signatories affirm that the 33% reservation is a necessary affirmative action, it stated.
“We request the government of India to refrain from granting exemption to the state of Nagaland from Part IX A of the Constitution if such application is put forth. We also demand that the state government of Nagaland to immediately resume the urban local body (ULB) election(s) procedure and schedule a date at the earliest, while ensuring the safety of the women candidates and voters.
“We appeal to the respective civil societies to set up a citizen inquiry committee consisting of women’s rights activists, lawyers, academics, civil and political rights organisations, policy makers and citizens to investigate the violence that has caused death, destruction of property and immeasurable suffering to Naga society. Finally, we propose a public debate and discussion on customary law in Nagaland, keeping the focus on women’s active political participation, particularly in Naga civic and customary bodies,” the representation read.
