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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.
Scroll.in
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Short stories from Nagaland: A young man's maiden visit to a clothing showroom doesn't go as planned
I am not someone who frequents showrooms, and it is for a rather simple but unusual reason: something about them makes me feel inadequate. The proportion-perfect mannequins staring out from the storefronts clad in immaculate fashion; the room-sized posters of spectacularly sculpted models flashing their pearly teeth; the squeaky clean, tiled floor polished to a slippery shine; the mechanical attendants tailing you around the aisles armed with the most refined brand of courteousness; the soul-stripping dressing rooms reflecting every flaw back at you; the sophisticated shoppers who go about with an air of elegance, sifting through the displays and making witty remarks about the materials; the invasive smile on the face of the cashier judging your every purchase. I shop cheap and had been doing so unapologetically for as long as I can remember. There was this new showroom in PR Hill, which opened a month ago to much fanfare – the proprietor had bought a full-page spread in all the local dailies for a full week prior to the opening day. The showroom – one giant building with four floors – sold high-end, branded apparel and footwear with hefty price tags. In the evenings when I go out to buy groceries from the merry Lotha women seated in rows under one of the overbridges, I would pass by the showroom, the evening sun reflecting off the storefront, always swarming with shoppers. During one such evening, I saw a queue starting from its wide entrance and spilling out onto the sidewalk. Plastered over the storefront were posters in bright red – SALE: 50% OFF. The queue moved in lurches, and with the entry of each person, the metal detector positioned in front of the glass swing door emitted a loud beep. The frequency of the beeps and the subsequent shuffling of feet lent a strange rhythm to the whole thing. I remember having this weird dream about walking into the showroom with all my uncivilised manners and being the lone soul inside, running from one long aisle to another like a rat caught in a maze, desperate to get out. I woke up screaming, and after it dawned on me that it was just a nightmare, I laid on my bed and laughed like a madman till my mouth started to hurt. The next day as I passed by the showroom, a cold, stabbing fear took hold of me and I felt an inexplicable urge to run away from it. In the office during lunch, as I was unpacking my tiffin – inside it the usual rice, dal and alu fry – I saw a paper carry bag with the logo of the showroom laid on the table of my had with him over the span of a year working together, he seemed like a nice chap: the kind this workplace chews up and spits out in a nauseous cycle by the dozens. It's a surprise that he still somehow managed to bring in every morning an outlook of optimism, with no visible signs of fatigue, even though he was drawing a pittance of a salary. I suppose some people are either just too easy to please or good at pretending to be content. Either way, that is an issue of no immediate bearing on me. I pointed at the paper bag and said in a flat tone: 'That paper bag…' Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. 'Yes, paper bag?' he asked in a sarcastic tone. 'Bought something at the new showroom?' I asked. 'Nothing special. Just a pullover. It was on sale.' He reached for the bag. 'You wanna see?' 'Well, if you insist.' I could hear a chuckle running down my throat. I ran my fingers across the fine details of the bag: the extra-large, eye-catching logo in the brightest red known to science; the noisy texture of its print; the crispy thickness of the paper material; the sharp creases formed under pressure that gave it some semblance of a character. I had little to no interest in the contents of the bag: one grey sweatshirt with the repulsive aesthetics of an old coal miner's sweat after a long day of work. In that moment, I pictured myself walking out of the showroom – without a hint of apprehension – with a similar bag, waving it gleefully in a tribal celebration of pure triumph. I was so intrigued that I decided to make my showroom shopping debut in a week. 'It's the best-looking sweatshirt I have seen in my life.' A bold lie, of course. I handed back the paper bag without looking at him. 'But you barely even opened it,' he said. 'I know quality when I see it.' Another shameless lie. I was, without any doubt, the best liar in the whole damn office. The following days, I ran probable scenarios – mostly favourable – inside my head about the big debut. I rehearsed them diligently before sleep and in the early morning; every line I could say to the attendants on that fateful day was put under scrutiny like lines from an esoteric play. I also made contingency plans in case a moment slipped past me unaware and jeopardised my laboured sense of routine. I made a mental map from images collected online of the showroom, of its many aisles and counters. I was prepped like a soldier embarking on a secret world-saving mission. Now the only thing needed to push me into action was a dab of courage, and perhaps a shot of vodka. My sentences start to drag out into a comical stutter when I am nervous, and alcohol, on many occasions, seems to help the case by keeping my conversation lean. The only shortcoming is that I tend to lose grip on reality, and civilised predisposition when under the influence of alcohol. The thought of having my uncouth aggression captured on one of those tiny CCTVs inside made alcohol strongly a non-option – also my monthly budget was in shambles and made a decent drink unaffordable. One evening while I was returning with a bag of edible silkworms – a pay-day extravaganza – I happened to pass by the showroom and was gripped by this sudden urge to walk in. I stood still for a moment to assess the place. The usual traffic swarming the place was amiss, which further intensified my desire. I walked up the flight of stairs leading to the entrance and stood two steps away from the metal detector. The watch-woman, upon seeing me, motioned at me from behind the glass door to step through the metal detector. A loud beep, a swing of the door, a delightful smile from the watch-woman, and I was inside, facing a labyrinth of aisles, carrying a blue polythene bag with shifting, live silkworms inside. A cold shiver of panic crawled down my spine.
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.
Hans India
10-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Nagaland Guv bats for preserving Naga heritage, culture, customary practices
Kohima: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan on Saturday emphasised to protect Naga heritage, culture, tradition and customary practices. Releasing a book titled 'The Lotha Naga Customary Law, Practices & Attires' authored by P. Pius Lotha at Raj Bhavan, Kohima, the Governor emphasised the importance of cultural rootedness in the face of globalisation. Noting that tradition is not a relic of the past but the foundation of one's identity, he said such documentation is especially vital for the youth, fostering a sense of pride, belonging and resilience. In his address, the Governor expressed great delight at being part of the occasion, noting that the book launch was more than a literary event. 'It was a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Lotha Naga community and a reaffirmation of the collective duty to preserve indigenous culture,' he said. The Governor lauded Pius Lotha for his meticulous research, describing the book as a 'source of invaluable knowledge' that captures the essence of Lotha traditions, governance, family structures, customary laws and traditional attire. He highlighted that the work offers not just a historical account, but a living dialogue between the past and the present. 'Our society has long depended on oral narratives. This written effort ensures that our customs and values are not lost to time but preserved for generations,' he remarked. He noted that the tension between tradition and modernity often stems from a communication gap, and books like this serve as conversation starters, bridging generations and encouraging mutual respect. 'By preserving Lotha Naga heritage, we enrich not just our state but also contribute to the cultural mosaic of the nation,' he added. The Governor congratulated the author for his perseverance, noting that the book was the result of 14 years of dedicated effort. He called upon everyone present to be custodians of culture and tradition, asserting that in preserving heritage, 'we bequeath to posterity the greatest wealth of all, identity.' The event was attended by cultural leaders, members of the Lotha community, and government officials. K.N. Mhonthung Lotha, Chairman Kohima Lotha Hoho, chaired the event. Nagaland Guv bats for preserving Naga heritage, culture, customary practices
