Staff Reporters
Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs minister Temjen Imna Along has called upon Naga society to evolve with time and embrace changes.
Delivering a keynote address at the first ever panel discussion on “Women Reservation in Ur-ban Local Bodies: Issues and challenges in Nagaland” held at Dimapur Government College (DGC) here on Friday, he emphasised that only change was permanent, noting that Naga society had seen many changes not only in the way they lived and looked at things, but also in the way they tried to do things by respecting their culture and tradition.
On 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies (ULBs), he noted that Naga society had deprived women in politics for a long time. And in a secular and democratic set-up like Nagaland, he pointed out that giving reservation to women would only mean that Naga men respected women as they would be part of the policy-making bodies.
Along lamented that reservation had been politicized in the wrong way in the State as the idea of reservation was to allow a section of society grow strong. He expressed gratitude to chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y Patton for initiating discussion on the issue.
Noting that Naga society was patriarchal, he exhorted men to alleviate the condition of women by making them part of the decision-making process. He also encouraged women to be strong by not necessarily being a feminist and work shoulder to shoulder with men for overall welfare of the society.
The minister was of the opinion that if reservation could be given to both men and women of backward areas, there was no reason why 33% reservation could not be given to women in ULBs. He encouraged all men to acknowledge the role of women in improving the society by allowing them to be a part of the policy-making process.
Conducted by History and Political Science departments of DGC in collaboration with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the objective of the discussion was to provide an open forum and open platform to all stakeholders to have free discussion, clear all doubts and dispel fears and suspicions over women reservation and the myths surrounding it. It was organised in the larger context of inclusiveness, women empowerment through governance, development and upholding of democratic principles in the State.
Provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 and 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India, which mandated reservation for women in ULBs, in conjunction with Article 371A that provided a special status to Nagaland were discussed.
On the issue of taxation that came along with the Municipal Act and whether it infringed on the very essence of Article 371 (A), Along emphasised that the money collected was not going out-side the State, but would be utilised by the elected members of ULBs to develop the administrated area. And while there would be grants from the Centre, he said revenue should also come from the people.
On the recent order of Supreme Court to conduct ULB elections with 33% reservation for women within six weeks, he said the State government had written to the Centre for conducting the polls after the Assembly election scheduled sometime next year.
Former DGC principal Kavili Jakhalu, who was among the three panellists at the discussion, claimed that the much talked about equality in Naga society was a myth propagated since the time of British.
She said Naga women did not have the right to inheritance, causing them to be economically dependent on men and wondered whether this was equality, regretted that women had not been part of any traditional political body.
Clarifying that participation was not reservation, Jakhalu stressed that women should not be confused by the higher percentage of women voters as high participation of women in decision-making as the participation was effectively nil in Nagaland Legislative Assembly where, she felt, there should be reservation too.
Insisting on 33% women reservation in ULBs, she commented that while there was no dearth of qualified women, the reason they were not able to participate or win elections was because of the mindset of the people and patriarchal values.
Responding to the issue of taxation, Central Government Standing Committee panel lawyer, En-forcement Directorate, W Rainbow Ngullie said, as per laws, tax was mandatory.
On the question if the reservation was going to impact the grassroots of the society, social activ-ist and governing board member of North East Network and Wildlife Conservation Society con-sultant Bano Haralu said the issue was being discussed because women had been left behind since long and that in villages they were still voiceless. She opined that women had no control over the State’s economy and this was the biggest factor that kept them away from politics.
The panel discussion concluded with a unanimous understanding that women reservation in ULBs was necessary and its copy was also planned to be submitted to the State Government.
Various organisations, including GBs, student bodies and civil society bodies, attended the discussion.