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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Five tribes rally against job quota policy in Nagaland
Dimapur: Hundreds of people from five Naga tribes – Sumi, Ao, Lotha, Angami, and Rengma – under the banner of the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), took out rallies in five district headquarters of Nagaland on Thursday against the state govt's alleged inaction on their demands to review the Nagaland job reservation policy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Defying the inclement weather, protesters gathered in Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Tseminyu and Wokha, demanding either a complete scrapping of the 48-year-old indefinite job quota for seven backward tribes, introduced in 1977 for an initial period of 10 years, or the exclusive reservation of the remaining unreserved quota for their five tribes. In Dimapur, a large number of protesters, both young and old, convened at the DC court junction, before marching to the deputy commissioner's office to submit a memorandum. Leaders of the three tribe organizations, who were present, affirmed their unwavering commitment to continue the agitation until their demands were met. They announced their plan for the second phase of the stir, which will be a peaceful sit-in (dharna) outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat starting June 2nd. This will be followed by a total shutdown in all districts inhabited by the five tribes, commencing on June protesters then proceeded to the DC office to submit an "ultimatum reminder" to the state government. The memorandum, addressed to the chief secretary, reiterated that the 5 CoRRP, representing the apex bodies of the five tribes – Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho – had previously submitted a memorandum to CM Neiphiu Rio on September 20, 2024, followed by a 30-day ultimatum on April 26, 2025, to address their demands. The memo expressed disappointment that the state govt's response, conveyed through a letter from the home commissioner dated May 25, 2025, had failed to address the core concerns and issues raised in their initial memorandum. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 5 CoRRP stated that they were resorting to democratic agitation through public protest rallies in all districts inhabited by the five tribes and submitting an ultimatum reminder regarding their "legitimate demands." The committee further declared their intention to intensify the agitation in various forms until their grievances are adequately addressed.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rallies held in Nagaland over delay in review of job reservation policy
Kohima: Five major Naga tribes took out rallies across eight districts in Nagaland on Thursday against the state government's inaction to review the 50 years-old job reservation policy for seven backward tribes. The five tribes --- Angami, Ao, Lotha, Sumi and Rengma --- organised rallies in the capital Kohima, Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheboto, Tseminyu, Chümoukedima, Niuland and the state's commercial hub Dimapur. The committee of five tribes has demanded a comprehensive review and reformation to the Nagaland job Reservation Policy for Backward Tribes to ensure that all tribes get fair opportunities in the government sector. The state government has convened a meeting with the representatives of the five aggrieved tribal bodies and their joint committee members on June 3. 'We welcome the invitation by the state government and hope that core issues raised by us will be addressed,' secretary of the committee GK Zhimomi said. Earlier this month, the Nagaland government said that it could not proceed with a review of the job reservation policy without accurate and up-to-date population data, emphasising that any such move must be based on the national census figures. The Nagaland job reservation policy for backward tribes (BTs) was introduced in 1977, reserving 25% of the total vacancies in non-technical and non-gazetted posts reserved for 'seven BTs deemed to be educationally and economically very backward' and having minimal representation in public services. This reservation was initially intended to last for 10 years. However, in 1987, the policy was not reviewed, and in 1989, the state government issued an order stating that the policy would continue until further notice. Over the years, the policy remained in place but both the number of BTs and the reservation quota increased. Currently, job reservations for BTs in the government sector stand at 37%—with 25% allocated to the seven tribes of the eastern Nagaland bloc and 12% to four other backward tribes. The committee has expressed the view that maintaining an indefinite reservation system without proper review poses a serious risk of economic imbalance and discrimination among the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Nagaland, potentially leading to greater inequality. The committee submitted a representation to the Neiphiu Rio-led state government in September 2024, demanding either the scrapping of the quota policy or the reservation of the remaining unreserved quota exclusively for the five non-BT tribes, which constitute nearly 55% of the ST population in Nagaland. This, they argued, would ensure fair opportunities for all tribes and uphold the principles of meritocracy and equality. The committee noted that recommendations from various committees —set up by the state government itself to review the policy—have largely been kept 'in cold storage,' with only some piecemeal implementation. It said that core issues such as the duration of reservation, internal reservations, discrimination stemming from multiple benefits and flexible options for BTs, the concept of a creamy layer, discrepancies in entry age, and backlog of reserved posts have remained unaddressed, despite repeated reminders from non-BT tribal bodies. The five-tribe panel issued a 30-day ultimatum on April 26, which expired reportedly without any response from the state government. 'This public protest rally is organised to express our resentment against state government's indifferent attitude to our genuine demand for review of job reservation policy. While reservation policy is a constitutional act, it needs to be reviewed from time to time. Certain percentage of reservation for backward tribes is legitimate, but reservation for each backward tribe is demeaning the merit of deserving candidates,' Angami Public Organisation in Kohima vice-president Vikehielie Victor said. An ultimatum was sent to the chief secretary through the district deputy commissioners, stating that the five tribes' bodies plan to intensify their phase-wise agitation in various forms until the state government addresses their grievances.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nagaland group announces stir against job quota for backward tribes
An organisation of five 'advanced' tribes in Nagaland has announced a movement against the State government's failure to respond to its 30-day deadline to review its job reservation policy for backward tribes. On April 26, the Five Tribes Committee Review of Reservation Policy served the ultimatum to the Neiphiu Rio-led government, demanding immediate revision of the job quota for the State's backward tribes. The deadline expires on May 25. The five tribes are Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi. The committee represents their respective apex bodies — the Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho. After a consultative meeting with these five apex bodies and other community-based organisations at Chumoukedima on Saturday (May 24, 2025), the committee decided to protest the government's silence on the matter peacefully and in phases. 'Our core demand is to either scrap the reservation policy altogether or allocate the remaining unreserved quota to the five tribes,' the committee's secretary, G.K. Zhimomi, said. He said the committee was not against any tribe benefiting from the reservation policy. 'A review of this 48-year-old policy is long overdue because of the vastly different scenario now,' he added. Mr. Zhimomi said the government failed to review the policy in 1987 and issued an order in 1989, stating that the reservation would continue until further notice. The committee's 30-day ultimatum was a follow-up of the memorandum it submitted to the State government on September 20, 2024, requesting a review of the job quota policy. Meanwhile, the student bodies of three communities recognised as Backward Tribes (BTs) have opposed the five-tribe committee's demand, insisting that diluting the current policy would affect the marginalised communities. These bodies are the Chakhesang Students' Union, Zeliang Students' Union, and Pochury Students' Union. The three unions said the reservation policy 'has been a cornerstone for addressing socio-economic inequalities' faced by the BTs, and diluting or scrapping it would deprive the beneficiary communities of job opportunities. In August 2024, Chief Minister Rio told the 60-member Nagaland Assembly that the reservation for the BTs began in 1977 and 37% of the non-technical and non-gazetted jobs are currently reserved for them. The quota is divided into 25% for seven Eastern Nagaland BTs and 12% for four other BTs.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
To review reservation policy, Census data needed: Nagaland govt
Kohima, Nagaland government has expressed its inability to move forward with any review of the job reservation policy without accurate and up-to-date population data, reiterating that such a move must be based on the national census figures. Responding to queries about demands by tribal bodies seeking a re-evaluation of the job reservation system, Nagaland government spokesperson and minister K G Kenye said, "We cannot move blindly. We need a basis—and that basis is the census". On April 27, representatives of the five major tribes of Nagaland - Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi - submitted a letter to the chief minister giving a 30-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding immediate action on their September 2024 request to review the Nagaland job reservation policy for backward tribes. However, talking to reporters at the state civil secretariat here on Wednesday, Kenye noted that the census process in Nagaland has been mired in legal disputes. "Our census has been challenged. Tribal organisations have approached the high court, and now the matter has reached the Supreme Court," he said, adding that there is disagreement over which census year as to whether 2001 or 2011, should be considered valid. "Now, we have already crossed 2021, which should be the reference for the current decade, but even the 2011 census has been challenged," he remarked. In light of these disputes, "We've decided to hold off until the new census data is available. Only then can we address these sensitive issues," Kenye asserted. He also clarified that conducting a census is under the purview of the Central government and not within the powers of individual states. "Unless the Centre announces and authorises it, we cannot undertake any census independently. It is a nationwide exercise," the minister explained. "We hope our tribal leaders and citizens understand that this is beyond the state's control. We are waiting, just like everyone else," Kenye added.
