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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Scrap or modify? Debate grows over Nagaland internal ST quota policy
With an agitation pushing for ending reservations for 'backward tribes' on one side and a demand to increase the quantum of this quota on the other, Nagaland's nearly five-decade old reservation policy has become the centre of a debate in the state. This week, the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CORRP), a grouping of five tribes in Nagaland, resumed its protest to push for a review of the reservation policy, which provides for an internal quota within the broader ST category for 'Indigenous Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland' in government jobs and reserves 37% of posts for tribes identified as 'backward tribes'. The CORRP comprises representatives from the apex bodies of five groups that have come to be called 'advanced tribes': Ao, Angami, Sumi, Lotha and Rengma. In response to pressure from the CORRP, which has been building up since September last year, the Nagaland government had in March convened a meeting with different stakeholders. Following this, Cabinet minister Neiba Kronu said the government has decided to review the policy. Two months later, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton met with the CORRP and said the Cabinet would deliberate on whether a commission on this matter would be set up. However, there is a roadblock. The stand of the government, which was expressed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the state Assembly last year and in a statement last week, is that a review of the reservation policy is only possible after the long-pending national Census is completed. Saying that the government wants to avoid 'temporary arrangements' in connection with reservations, Rio told reporters last week: 'For any reform in administration or backward reservation or delimitation, it should come after the conduct of the Census.' There are 14 recognized Naga tribes in Nagaland, and the Scheduled Tribes in the state also include 'Indigenous' Garo, Mikir, Kuki and Kachari groups. The Nagaland government had first introduced reservation for STs of the state in the Nagaland State Services in 1967. The quantum for this was fixed at 80% of vacancies in the Nagaland State Services and 100% of non-technical Grade-III and IV posts. The element of internal reservations within this reservation was introduced in 1977. Through an order then, 25% of these reserved vacancies were reserved for seven tribes – Konyak, Chakhesang, Sangtam, Phom, Chang, Yimchunger and Khiamunuingan – citing economic backwardness and 'insignificant representation in the services'. The 1977 order had laid down a timeline of 10 years for these additional reservations. However, in 1989, through another order, the Nagaland government directed that the reservation policy would continue 'until further orders'. After several changes in the quantum of the reservations for 'backward tribes' and the list of tribes entitled to it, the present reservation stands at 25% of all posts under the Government of Nagaland for six tribes from Eastern Nagaland districts – Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Yimchunger, Chang and Khiamniungan – and another 12% for the Chakhesang, Pochury, Zeliang tribes and the Sumis from Kiphire district. Now, the other tribes are saying that the reservation policy for backward tribes be entirely scrapped or that the remaining posts be reserved exclusively for them. 'This policy was supposed to be there for 10 years, but it has been there for 48 years. In the past 48 years, there have been six review committees that made various recommendations, one of which was that Chakhesang and Zeliang tribes be removed from the backward tribes list as they have made considerable advancement. But neither were these implemented nor were the other tribes ever included in these discussions,' said G K Zhimomi, the member secretary of CORRP. Zhimomi said the disparity in Nagaland was 'economic' — not because of a rigid social system like the caste system — and called for a policy better suited for Nagaland. He also pitched for a 'creamy layer' system as it exists for OBC reservation. Creamy layer is a concept that sets a threshold within which OBC reservation benefits are applicable. While there is a 27% quota for OBCs in government jobs and higher educational institutions, those falling within the 'creamy layer' cannot get the benefits of this quota. Not just the CORRP, calls for a review of the reservation policy have come from different quarters including the Naga Students' Federation and its lone Lok Sabha MP Congress leader Supongmeren Jamir. There is also a demand from another quarter: organisations representing tribes from Eastern Nagaland, which have for years been demanding that the backward tribes reservation for the seven tribes from the region be increased to 45%. The six eastern districts of the state have historically lagged behind in development indices, a regional disparity that was also flagged in the 2016 Nagaland State Human Development Report. 'We are waiting for the government to take a call on this issue but we believe it should be reviewed and that there should be an enhancement (of ST internal quota) for Eastern Nagaland areas. The current policy is not doing justice. Even though it has been in place for so many years, it has been on paper. It does not reflect in the offices where these figures are not being met,' said Eastern Naga Students Federation President Nuheymong.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nagaland's bid to improve Aadhaar enrolment
Dimapur: In a focused effort to improve Aadhaar enrolment among children aged 0–5 in Nagaland, state commissioner KS Anden Konyak handed over 24 fingerprint scanners and 24 smartphones to the economics and statistics department on Thursday. The devices will support the expansion and efficiency of Aadhaar registration services statewide. The devices were handed over at the conference hall of the commissioner's office in Kohima, where officials and stakeholders gathered to mark the initiative. Speaking at the event, Konyak emphasised the critical need to increase Aadhaar enrolment among young children, highlighting the importance of its regular updates. "Each district is equipped with functional enrolment centres and trained operators to ensure timely registration and updates. Public awareness about updating Aadhaar every 10 years is essential," he stated. In Nagaland, the Unique Identification Authority of India operates through the office of the commissioner, with support from banks, post offices, and other authorised agencies serving as enrolment and update centres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo To address gaps in coverage, a special Aadhaar enrolment campaign will soon be launched in Wokha, Peren, and Phek districts, which are currently showing low registration rates. The initiative is part of a broader state strategy to ensure that all residents, particularly children, have access to identity services that are essential for availing govt schemes and benefits.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
The peaceful village that could be cut in half by a new border fence
In the remote hilltop village of Longwa, the most prominent structure is the corrugated tin roof of the hut belonging to the Angh, a symbol of traditional authority for the Konyak tribe. But a less visible landmark, the India-Myanmar border slicing through the village, has become a source of growing anxiety for residents. For generations, the border held little significance for the Konyak people, whose lives have seamlessly straddled both nations. 'I eat in Myanmar and sleep in India,' explains Tonyei Phawang, the Angh, whose house sits directly on the dividing line. This long-held tradition of free movement, however, is now under threat. The Indian government is moving to restrict border crossings for the first time, revoking a system that permitted Indigenous people to traverse the boundary freely. The proposed construction of a border fence raises the alarming prospect of dividing villages like Longwa, disrupting the lives and traditions of the Konyak community. Two countries, one community On a Thursday in December, Longwa's marketplace was bustling with shoppers from the Myanmar side. Motorbikes were loaded with as many groceries as they could carry, including clothes, tea and soap. The nearest town with a market on the other side of the border is Lahe, a full day's drive away. Locals have long come and gone from Longwa to shop, study or seek medical care, with no sign that they're crossing an international border except a border marker sitting on a hilltop. The Angh and village council members say their ancestors had no idea that the concrete pillar was meant to divide them when it was built in the early 1970s. 'At that time we had no idea this is India or Myanmar. It was a free land. There was nobody who understood English or Hindi. They understood nothing,' Phawang says. Like dozens of other Indigenous Naga tribes, the Konyak's land straddles the mountains that divide India and Myanmar. Naga villages are usually built on hilltops for security, something that wasn't considered when the British East India Company drew the border in an agreement with the then-Kingdom of Burma. The Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship. However, people in Longwa see themselves as belonging to both countries. 'I am from both India and Burma,' Phawang said, using another name for the country officially known as Myanmar. 'I vote in the Burmese election. And when the Indian election comes I vote there too.' Phawang is the chief of six Konyak villages in India and more than 30 in Myanmar, whose residents pay allegiance with a yearly feast as they have for some 10 generations. The reach of the Indian state was very limited in these borderlands until recently. People here often have documents from both governments, said Khriezo Yhome, a senior fellow and editor at Asian Confluence, a think tank working to create an understanding of eastern South Asia. 'However, there was practically no way for the state to do anything to check it.' Border guards and fences could cut the village Until recently, residents from both sides could travel legally within 9.9 miles of the border, but that started to change in February 2024, when the government revoked the Free Movement Regime 'to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India's North Eastern states bordering Myanmar'. Change has come slowly in Longwa: it took almost a year before soldiers stationed in the village began checking documents, and Longwa residents still move freely after their shifts end in the early afternoon. But people from other villages in Myanmar are afraid to travel beyond Longwa to reach schools or medical care, said B. Phohi Konyak, a former local leader of an organisation representing Konyak women. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1,021 mile-long Indo-Myanmar border. If it follows the legal border, it would have to cut through dozens of houses. Of the 990 buildings in the village, 170 lie on the boundary line, including a government school, the church and an army camp. Locals say a fence won't help Wangron Konyak, 23, drove five hours on his motorcycle from the village of Momkho to pick up his sister as school closed for vacation. 'If we are not allowed to come this side then we will suffer a lot. For those studying in Myanmar school it will be alright, but people like my sister who study in India will be very affected.' Residents and state officials are rejecting the changes. The Nagaland state government passed a resolution opposing the end of the Free Movement Regime and plans for border fencing. On February 3, Longwa residents staged a protest carrying placards with slogans like 'Respect Indigenous rights, not colonial legacy!' Yhome, the expert, said that an effort to stop locals from crossing the border could violate the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, which seeks to protect the integrity of border-straddling communities. 'For us there is no Burma Longwa or India Longwa," Yanlang, a 45-year-old village council member, said. "How can one village and one family be divided?'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In northeast India, a border fence could cut through villages, houses and lives
LONGWA, India (AP) — To the people who live there, Longwa is a typical hilltop village. The most imposing structure is a corrugated tin roof belonging to the Angh, a hereditary tribal chief. But recently, residents have been worried about another, less visible, local landmark: the border between India and Myanmar, which runs right through the village's center. National boundaries never mattered before to the local Konyak tribe. 'I eat in Myanmar and sleep in India,' says Tonyei Phawang, the Angh, whose house sits on the border. The Indian government is now seeking to stop border crossings for the first time, revoking a system that made it legal for Indigenous people to cross freely and threatening to build a border fence that could cut villages like Longwa in two. Two countries, one community On a Thursday in December, Longwa's marketplace was bustling with shoppers from the Myanmar side, motorbikes loaded with as much salt, flour, biscuits, clothes, milk, tea, soap as they could carry. The nearest town with a market on the other side of the border is Lahe, a full day's drive away. Locals have long come and gone to shop, study or seek medical care, with no sign that they're crossing an international border except a border marker sitting on a hilltop in the village. The Angh and village council members say their forefathers had no idea that the concrete pillar was meant to divide them when it was built in the early 1970s. 'At that time we had no idea this is India or Myanmar. It was a free land. There was nobody who understood English or Hindi. They understood nothing,' Phawang says. Like dozens of other Indigenous Naga tribes, the Konyak's land straddles the mountains that divide India and Myanmar. Naga villages are usually built on hilltops for security, something that wasn't considered when the British East India Company drew the border in an agreement with the then-Kingdom of Burma. The Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship, but people in Longwa see themselves as belonging to both countries. 'I am from both India and Burma,' Phawang said, using another name for the country officially known as Myanmar. 'I vote in the Burmese election. And when the Indian election comes I vote there too.' Phawang is chief of six Konyak villages in India and more than 30 in Myanmar, whose residents pay allegiance with a yearly feast as they have for some 10 generations. The reach of the Indian state was very limited in these borderlands until recently. People here often have documents from both governments, said Khriezo Yhome, a senior fellow and editor at Asian Confluence, a think tank working to create an understanding of eastern South Asian. 'However, there was practically no way for the state to do anything to check it.' Border guards and fences could cut the village Until recently, residents from both sides could travel legally within 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) of the border, but that started to change in February 2024, when the government revoked the Free Movement Regime 'to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India's North Eastern states bordering Myanmar.' Change has come slowly in Longwa: it took almost a year before soldiers stationed in the village began checking documents, and Longwa residents still move freely after their shifts end in the early afternoon. But people from other villages in Myanmar are afraid to travel beyond Longwa to reach schools or medical care, said B. Phohi Konyak, a former local leader of an organization representing Konyak women. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1,643-kilometer (1,021-mile) long Indo-Myanmar border. If it follows the legal border, it would have to cut through dozens of houses. Of the 990 buildings in the village, 170 lie on the boundary line — including a government school, the church and an army camp. Locals say a fence won't help Wangron Konyak, 23, drove five hours on his motorcycle from the village of Momkho to pick up his sister as school closed for vacation. 'If we are not allowed to come this side then we will suffer a lot. For those studying in Myanmar school it will be alright, but people like my sister who study in India will be very affected.' Residents and state officials are rejecting the changes. The Nagaland state government passed a resolution opposing the end of the Free Movement Regime and plans for border fencing, and on Feb. 3 Longwa residents staged a protest carrying placards with slogans like 'Respect Indigenous rights, not colonial legacy!' Yhome, the expert, said that an effort to stop locals from crossing the border could violate the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, which seeks to protect the integrity of border-straddling communities. 'For us there is no Burma Longwa or India Longwa," Yanlang, a 45-year-old village council member. "How can one village and one family be divided?' asked Yirmiyan Arthur, The Associated Press
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In northeast India, a border fence could cut through villages, houses and lives
LONGWA, India (AP) — To the people who live there, Longwa is a typical hilltop village. The most imposing structure is a corrugated tin roof belonging to the Angh, a hereditary tribal chief. But recently, residents have been worried about another, less visible, local landmark: the border between India and Myanmar, which runs right through the village's center. National boundaries never mattered before to the local Konyak tribe. 'I eat in Myanmar and sleep in India,' says Tonyei Phawang, the Angh, whose house sits on the border. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The Indian government is now seeking to stop border crossings for the first time, revoking a system that made it legal for Indigenous people to cross freely and threatening to build a border fence that could cut villages like Longwa in two. Two countries, one community On a Thursday in December, Longwa's marketplace was bustling with shoppers from the Myanmar side, motorbikes loaded with as much salt, flour, biscuits, clothes, milk, tea, soap as they could carry. The nearest town with a market on the other side of the border is Lahe, a full day's drive away. Locals have long come and gone to shop, study or seek medical care, with no sign that they're crossing an international border except a border marker sitting on a hilltop in the village. The Angh and village council members say their forefathers had no idea that the concrete pillar was meant to divide them when it was built in the early 1970s. 'At that time we had no idea this is India or Myanmar. It was a free land. There was nobody who understood English or Hindi. They understood nothing,' Phawang says. Like dozens of other Indigenous Naga tribes, the Konyak's land straddles the mountains that divide India and Myanmar. Naga villages are usually built on hilltops for security, something that wasn't considered when the British East India Company drew the border in an agreement with the then-Kingdom of Burma. The Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship, but people in Longwa see themselves as belonging to both countries. 'I am from both India and Burma,' Phawang said, using another name for the country officially known as Myanmar. 'I vote in the Burmese election. And when the Indian election comes I vote there too.' Phawang is chief of six Konyak villages in India and more than 30 in Myanmar, whose residents pay allegiance with a yearly feast as they have for some 10 generations. The reach of the Indian state was very limited in these borderlands until recently. People here often have documents from both governments, said Khriezo Yhome, a senior fellow and editor at Asian Confluence, a think tank working to create an understanding of eastern South Asian. 'However, there was practically no way for the state to do anything to check it.' Border guards and fences could cut the village Until recently, residents from both sides could travel legally within 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) of the border, but that started to change in February 2024, when the government revoked the Free Movement Regime 'to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India's North Eastern states bordering Myanmar.' Change has come slowly in Longwa: it took almost a year before soldiers stationed in the village began checking documents, and Longwa residents still move freely after their shifts end in the early afternoon. But people from other villages in Myanmar are afraid to travel beyond Longwa to reach schools or medical care, said B. Phohi Konyak, a former local leader of an organization representing Konyak women. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1,643-kilometer (1,021-mile) long Indo-Myanmar border. If it follows the legal border, it would have to cut through dozens of houses. Of the 990 buildings in the village, 170 lie on the boundary line — including a government school, the church and an army camp. Locals say a fence won't help Wangron Konyak, 23, drove five hours on his motorcycle from the village of Momkho to pick up his sister as school closed for vacation. 'If we are not allowed to come this side then we will suffer a lot. For those studying in Myanmar school it will be alright, but people like my sister who study in India will be very affected.' Residents and state officials are rejecting the changes. The Nagaland state government passed a resolution opposing the end of the Free Movement Regime and plans for border fencing, and on Feb. 3 Longwa residents staged a protest carrying placards with slogans like 'Respect Indigenous rights, not colonial legacy!' Yhome, the expert, said that an effort to stop locals from crossing the border could violate the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, which seeks to protect the integrity of border-straddling communities. 'For us there is no Burma Longwa or India Longwa," Yanlang, a 45-year-old village council member. "How can one village and one family be divided?' asked
