Nagaland Reservation Policy: 5 major tribes hold sit-in-protest
The agitators belonging to five major tribes - Ao, Angami, Lotha, Rengma and Sumi - community came together under the banner of 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy and demanded either the scrapping of the current job reservation policy, which is in effect since 1977, or to reallocate the unfilled reserved positions specifically to these five major tribes.
The protestors held banners and placards some of which read "We protest against 48 years of indefinite reservation policy", "Backward Tribe reservation without minimum cut-off marks is a mockery of the system", "BT reservation in 48 years has outlived its intended purpose", "48 years of patience on BT reservation has become unbearable".
CoRRP argued the policy is outdated and oppressive, calling for its repeal or redistribution of unutilised quotas to the five tribes.
The Nagaland government on Tuesday appealed to the committee to call off the strike, stating the matter was already under institutional review. The government had also informed that the state cabinet would hold a meeting and take a decision on the matter once the chief minister, who is currently out of station, is back.
However, rejecting the government's appeal, the CoRRP decided to go ahead with a one-day agitation.
The push to review Nagaland's reservation policy intensified after the five major tribal apex bodies – Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma and Sumi, under the banner of the '5-Tribe CoRRP' submitted a joint memorandum to the state government.
They argued that the policy, which has been in place since 1977, no longer reflects the current socio-economic and educational realities of the various communities in the state.
Following sustained public pressure, including a large rally held in Kohima and other districts inhabited by the five tribes, during a meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton on June 3, the government assured them that a Commission would be constituted by June 17.
However, on July 2, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while appealing for public patience had said the Commission's task is "very detailed" and cannot deliver immediate results.
He also stated that any reforms – be it in administration, reservations, or delimitations should be carried out only after the national census, which is expected to begin in 2027.
Frustrated by the state government's silence and lack of progress on the matter, CoRRP on July 3 declared to hold a sit-in protest.
Initially, 25 per cent reservation was allocated for seven tribes in non-technical and non-gazetted posts for a period of 10 years. These tribes were designated as 'backward' based on educational and economic disadvantages, and limited representation in state services.
Over the years, the reservation has increased to 37 per cent, comprising 25 per cent for seven Eastern Nagaland Backward Tribes and 12 per cent for four other backward tribes of the state.
CoRRP has signaled potential escalation if the government does not take concrete action on forming and empowering the commission.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Make RTI Act part of varsity curriculum: Karnataka Information Commission
BENGALURU: The Karnataka Information Commission has recommended several measures to the State Government to strengthen the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, including introducing RTI-related curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The move aims to foster awareness among youth and improve transparency and accountability in government administration. The State Information Commissioner recently met Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and submitted a detailed list of recommendations ahead of a high-level meeting on RTI scheduled for July 14, to be chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta. The Commission has proposed integrating the RTI Act into university curriculum and competitive exams conducted by the KPSC, KEA, and other recruitment bodies. It further recommended that passing RTI-related examinations be made a criterion for promotions and pay reviews in the government sector. The Commission also highlighted the need for RTI training in institutions such as the Administrative Training Institute (Mysuru), District Training Institutes, and the Monetary Policy Institute (Bengaluru).
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
ECI needs to course correct on Bihar SIR
The special intensive revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral roll, ordered by the Election Commission on June 24, has raised serious concerns and disturbing questions. Will possibly crores be disenfranchised as a result? Will the poor and the marginalised be the worst to suffer? And was it necessary to carry it out at this time? Whilst I know the Representation of People Act authorises the Commission to hold a special revision in any manner it thinks fit and at any time, nonetheless, was it proper that this should be held just four months before assembly elections are due in Bihar? In 2003, the special intensive revision was held two years before the assembly elections, not four months. Second, the SIR has to be completed in just one month (June 25–July 25). Given that it affects nearly eight crore voters, can it really be done in 30 days? These are, of course, questions of timing but they also draw dark clouds over the process that will follow. They are reasons for re-considering, not pressing ahead. Let's now come to the details. People born before July 1987 are required to provide proof of birth and birth place. But a lot of people don't have birth certificates. Many were born at home. Data from the Registrar General of India shows that as recently as 2000 only 3.7% of estimated births in Bihar were registered. By 2007 — and remember people born in that year will be 18 in 2025 — the figure had only increased to 25%. So the preponderant majority don't have birth certificates. The Commission has said that those who don't can provide any one of 11 other documents such as a PSU identity card, passport, matriculation certificate, forest right certificate and caste certificate. However, the most common cards, Aadhaar and ration, are excluded. The question is how many people in Bihar will have one of these 11? And, equally importantly, will it identify the place of birth? In many cases, that's unlikely. What is likely is that poor people from marginalised groups such as Dalits, Muslims, extremely backward castes and tribals won't have these documents and could end up disenfranchised. Doesn't that seem unfair? Let's go one step further. People born after July 1987 up to December 2004 have to provide proof of birth and birth place not just of themselves but also of one parent, whilst those born after December 2004 have to provide details of both parents. But how many people can do that? For instance, I can't provide my father's and mother's birth certificates. I don't have them. I'm pretty certain most Biharis won't have their parents' birth certificates. Subsequently, the Commission has said that 4.96 crore of the 7.9 crore total electors, who were validated by the SIR of 2003, do not have to submit documents. But what about the remaining three crore? And what about those who were not included in the 2003 SIR, even though they were entitled to be? Of them, there's only silence. These are already daunting concerns. But the potential infirmities with the SIR go further. All of its requirements have to be complied with within a month or names will be deleted from the electoral roll. But this is when the monsoon will be at its height and it's also the kharif sowing season. How many people will have the time for this additional onerous task? But that's not all. It's estimated that 20% of the population of Bihar is migrant labour. They won't be there when the SIR is done. What happens to them? Don't they run the risk of being deleted from the electoral rolls? Finally, is there a danger adults not included in or dropped from the electoral roll will be deemed to be non-citizens? In that event what will happen to them? This is why Jagdeep Chhokar, a founding trustee of the Association for Democratic Reforms, says the SIR is 'wrong, ridiculous and unnecessary'. Frankly, I'm inclined to accept that conclusion. What about you? Karan Thapar is the author of Devil's Advocate: The Untold Story. The views expressed are personal.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- The Hindu
Election Commission of India says 80% of electors in Bihar have submitted voter enumeration forms
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (July 12, 2025) said that it has distributed Enumeration Forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Voter Rolls in Bihar to almost all electors who were found at their addresses and added that the forms can be submitted by July 25 and the required documents later by August 30. Editorial | Careful curation: On Bihar's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls The Commission stated that 100% of the forms had been printed and that distribution was nearly complete for all electors found at their respective addresses. As of 6:00 p.m. on Saturday (July 12, 2025), a total of 6,32,59,497 Enumeration Forms — or 80.11% of electors — had been collected. The ECI had earlier, on July 6, issued front-page advertisements in Patna-based newspapers urging voters to submit their filled forms even if they did not yet possess the requisite documents. The advertisement clarified that Electoral Registration Officers could process such forms based on local inquiries or alternative documentary evidence. Soon after, the Commission further clarified that while documents could be submitted until July 25, voters would also have another opportunity to provide them during the claims and objections period. On July 10, while hearing a group of petitions challenging the SIR process in Bihar, the Supreme Court urged the ECI to consider Aadhaar, EPIC cards, and ration cards as valid forms of identification. The next hearing is scheduled for July 28, just ahead of the planned publication of the draft electoral rolls on August 1, 2025. Editorial | Widen the net: On Supreme Court and Bihar's revision of electoral rolls In its statement, the Commission said 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), supported by an additional 20,603 newly appointed BLOs, are actively engaged in completing the enumeration exercise ahead of the July 25 deadline. Field-level supervision is being conducted by 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and 963 Assistant EROs across the State, under the oversight of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the Commission added.
