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Jan 06, 2017 10:17 Kohima Sta! Curator 34 Tweet

Nagaland civic polls: Naga tribes to boycott elections to protest 33% reservation for women

Age old patriarchal system and aspiring feminism are at loggerheads in Nagaland as

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Scams, agitations rocked Nagaland in 2016

major tribes boycott forthcoming municipal election protesting the state government’s

move to reserve 33% of the seats for women.

The tussle has resulted in dismal figures in nominations filed in 11 districts of the state

in the last two days. The last date of filing nominations is 7 January and the election will

be held on 1 February.

The diktat to boycott the election came from the civil society organizations representing

various tribal groups, just a day before the election office opened up to receive

nomination on 3 January.

A press statement published by Ao Sengden, a body of the Ao Tribe, in the Eastern

Mirror issued dictat prohibiting the people from participating in the election saying

that anyone from the Ao community found violating this order would be liable to

“questioning and appropriate punishment”.

Dr. Vihusa Seleyi, President of the Angami Public Organisation which has also called for

boycotting the municipal polls, told Firstpost that the organization will intensify the

agitation wherever it finds opposition. It also said that the protesters are ready to face

any consequence in a bid to successfully implement the order.

“The Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution empowers the Naga people to decide

their own laws as per customs and traditions. We do not have any problem if women

take up political leadership. But the Naga Mothers Association dragged the matter to

the Supreme Court without discussion with the people. This has caused resentment,”

said Seleyi.

Rosemary Dzuvichu, the adviser of the Naga Mothers Association had filed a case in the

Supreme Court demanding 33% reservation of seats in civic polls. In an earlier

interview with Firstpost, she had said that since the case was still being heard by the

apex court and no stay order was issued by it, there was no legal obstacle in holding the

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election with 33% reservation for women.

Dr. Vihusa Seleyi further said that the Naga Mothers Association also convinced the

government to proceed with the election reserving 33% of seats for women, without any

consultation with the ‘Naga Society’.

Hokiye Sema, the President of Central Naga Tribal Council which also demands

abolishing of the provision of reservation of seats for women in the civic polls

told Firstpost, “In Naga society a woman is not considered to be equal to men. She is

not even allowed to speak in Panchayat until and unless she is summoned by it.

Providing 33% reservation to women amounts to giving her the same status as men and

it gives men inferiority complex.”

He also said that the Naga society has been following the customary laws for more than

thousand years and those cannot be just wiped out.

“Even the Parliament has not passed the bill of 33% reservation for women. But why the

Chief Minister of Nagaland is so much anxious to implement this provision?” he asks.

He also says that it is the government’s responsibility to protect the rights of the Naga

People as provided for in the Constitution of India in the Article 371(A).

Maintaining that his organization has no other problem with the Municipal Act passed

by the government of Nagaland except the provision of 33% reservation for women. “In

India men are considered to be superior than woman as per customs and that has to be

taken very seriously,” he added.

Nagaland state Assembly does not have a single woman as it’s member.

Chakhasang Public Organisation another tribal body that has joined hands in the

agitation has different view on the issue.

President K Lea told Firstpost, “The Municipal Act passed recently was not deliberated

properly before bringing it into force. It infringes upon the rights of the Naga people to

develop their own land. After this Act is brought into force we will have to take

permission from the municipality to develop our own land, whereas the Article 371(A)

of the Indian Constitution provides us with the right to decide upon to what to do with

our resources.”

The Article 371(A) in the constitution says, “Notwithsatanding anything in this

Constitution, (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of (1) religious or social practices of

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Tags:

Nagaland civic polls Naga tribes elections Tribes Ao Sengden Dr. Vihusa Seleyi Supreme court

civic polls Parliament K Lea Kohima Menukhol John Rosemary Dzuvichu Apex Court

Nagas,(2) Naga customary law and procedure,(3) and administration of civil and

criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law,(4) ownership and

transfer of land and it’s resources, shall apply to the state of Nagaland unless the

Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.”

Some of the Naga leaders also contended that the new Municipality Act was brought

into force only to derive more funds from the central government.

Kohima, the capital of Nagaland has been selected as a city to be developed under the

smart city project declared by the central government. As per guidelines a special

purpose vehicle has to be formed with the elected body of the concerned municipality.

But Kohima has not held the urban local body election for a decade.

The Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 was amended in the year 2006 to incorporate the

provision of 33% reservation for women.

The government of Nagaland in a recent cabinet meeting has decided to proceed with

the election despite protests and it held the view that reservation of 33% of seats will not

infringe upon the rights of the Naga people, according to a press release issued by

Menukhol John, Principal Secretary, Department of Municipal Affairs.

Nagaland has already provided for 25% reservation in seats for woman in Village

Development Boards.

TI Merry an office bearer of the ruling Naga People’s Front told Firstpost that many

prospective candidates are still in consultation with the tribal organizations to convince

them to suspend their agitation programme.

Meanwhile, Rosemary Dzuvichu holds that the Municipal Election has nothing to do

with Naga culture as per an order passed by the apex court earlier.

It is to be noted that Municipal Elections in India is held as per 74th amendment of the

Indian constitution and reserving 33% of the seats for women is a Constitutional

mandate.

By: Kangkan Acharyya | Source: FirstPost

Kohima

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