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Dimapur, April 29 (EMN): Women in Nagaland have not been able to join politics because they have no control over the economy, as money has crippled the electorates, said social activist and member governing board of the North East Network/consultant, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bano Haralu.
She said ‘we talk about 33% reservation for women as if it will equalise everything’, pointing out that women in the villages are voiceless though they are pillars of the society.
Haralu was speaking at a panel discussion on “Women Reservation in Urban Local Bodies: Issues and Challenges in Nagaland”, organised by the department of Political Science and History in collaboration with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Dimapur Government College (DGC) on Friday.
She also pointed out that the phobia in the minds of the people were transparency and accountability of taxes.
Also speaking at the workshop, minister of Higher Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along asked “if we can give 33% reservation to men and women of the backward areas, why can’t we give 33% reservation to our women irrespective of which area?” while urging to allow women to be at par with men in policy making.
He added that the incumbent state government had announced 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies after much deliberation.
“If we ask bluntly why we need women reservation, women can come out with their feminism viewpoint. Our own society is living a hypocritical society. We are living in the 21st century and through time we change our things, we evolve, we inculcate and we include changes and that is important. We respect our traditions and culture and we evolve through them but what was relevant in the 18th century may not be relevant now,” he opined.
Terming that those against women’s reservation as male chauvinist, he said the Naga society has deprived women in politics for too long.
Men, he said, can always be stronger by elevating women but they can’t be stronger by depriving women of the opportunity to grow. When we need them everywhere and every time why not in policy making? he asked, adding that women can always be stronger by not being a feminist.
Along added that the state is awaiting the Centre’s nod for conducting ULB elections with 33% reservation for women.
On the issue of taxation, Central Government Standing Committee panel lawyer, Enforcement Directorate, W Rainbow Ngullie, said that tax was mandatory, reasoning that
“the money collected isn’t going outside the state but would be utilised by the elected members to develop the administrated area; and while there will be grants from the centre, revenue should also come from the people”.
Former DGC Principal, Kavili Jakhalu said that Naga women have no right to inheritance since time immemorial, and even in traditional political institutions, women have no right. The only good thing that happened to Naga women was education, she said.
Meanwhile, rapporteurs of the panel discussion -- DGC associate professors Dr Maongkala Longchar and Dr Yelhi Vero – highlighted the contentions connected with women reservation in ULB vis-a-vis Municipal Act.