5 Tribes CoRRP stage sit-in protest

Intensifying its protest for reviewing and scrapping the state’s job reservation policy, the Five Tribes Core Committee on Reservation and Reform Policy (CoRRP) on Wednesday staged a sit-in protest outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy stated, “For 48 long years, we have supported and allowed time for the implementation of the Nagaland Reservation Policy. We have done so in the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity, hoping that it would uplift those in need. And indeed, it has enabled several backward tribes to rise, sometimes even surpassing the so-called advanced tribes.”
He claimed that the reservation policy was never intended to be permanent, and was to be reviewed every 10 years. However, in 1989, he noted that the government issued a vague notification that the existing policy would continue until further orders. This indefinite extension had now stretched into nearly five decades, he said.
Semy highlighted that several committees were set up by the state government over the years to review the policy, but their reports remain shelved and unimplemented.
He drew attention to multiple core concerns that the protesting tribes believed needed urgent redressal, including the indefinite duration of the policy without review, internal reservation system that had led to discrimination, lack of a creamy layer exclusion which allowed multiple benefits for certain groups, age relaxations and cut-off mark discrepancies that disadvantaged others, and a backlog of reserved posts, especially in the education sector.
He cited instances of how reserved posts reportedly remained unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants from the reserved quota, while qualified candidates from the five tribes were denied opportunities.
“Is this justice? Is this what affirmative action was supposed to look like?” Semy questioned, arguing that the current reservation framework, based solely on tribe status, failed to address true social and economic disadvantage.
He further argued that in Nagaland where all tribes were listed as Scheduled Tribes, the continued classification into “Backward” and “Advanced” tribes was inherently discriminatory and divisive.
He reiterated the demands of the 5 Tribes CoRRP to either scrap the reservation policy entirely, or allocate the remaining unreserved quota fairly to the five tribes — Angamis, Aos, Sumis, Lothas, and Rengmas.
He recalled the joint meeting convened by the state government on June 3, 2025, where the five tribes were assured that a decision regarding the formation of a commission would be communicated within a fortnight, and that action would follow within a month.
“Today, more than a month has passed. There is no notification, no update, and no action. Are we to conclude that this issue is not a priority for the government? Worse still, we have come to learn that the government now intends to wait for the next population census in 2027 before addressing the issue. Are we expected to sit quietly for another three or four years? Does this mean we will celebrate 50 years—a golden jubilee—of a flawed and unreviewed policy? Let us be clear: 48 years is enough. The time to act is now,” he stressed.
Semy explained that the gathering was not driven by anger but by conviction, clarifying that their intention was not to create division but to restore fairness. He mentioned that if there was genuine political will, the state cabinet could take a decision on their demands without delay.
He appealed the government not to delay justice any further, insisting that Nagaland must be a place where every tribe was treated equally and merit was not compromised by outdated policies.
He expressed gratitude to apex tribal bodies, civil society, and citizens for their continued support, calling for unity, firmness, and peaceful resolve in pursuing the cause.
Speaking to reporters, CoRRP member secretary GK Zhimomi clarified that the formation of a commission, as announced by the state government, was never the core demand of the five tribes.
He criticised the government for citing the upcoming census as a reason for the delay in taking a decision, pointing out that the same excuse was used in 2022. He wondered whether the tribes were now expected to wait another three years.
He alleged that the 48-year-old policy had created inequality by enabling repeated benefits for certain groups without review or the introduction of “creamy layer” exclusion.
Zhimomi argued that reservation should be based on economic and social needs rather than tribal classification, pointing out that economic hardship existed among the so-called advanced tribes, just as affluence existed within some backward tribes.
He described the one-day protest as a symbolic gesture but warned that the agitation could become indefinite if the government failed to take action upon chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio’s return from abroad. He maintained that if there was true political will, a decision could be made immediately.
He said seven committees had been set up over the years to review the reservation policy, including the Bano Committee, which concluded that at least two backward tribes no longer met the criteria. However, he lamented that no action was taken, and expressed fear that the proposed commission might suffer the same fate.
Several tribal, youth, and student leaders from the five tribes also voiced their concerns and expressed solidarity during the protest.
5 Tribes CoRRP thanks participants of sit-in protest
The 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) has expressed gratefulness to all five apex bodies — Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho and Sumi Hoho — for their unstinted support and presence at the sit-in protest in front of Nagaland Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday to deliver solidarity messages.
Appreciating the exuberant involvement of the youth and student bodies from five tribes that continued to drive the movement, CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy and member secretary GK Zhimomi in a press release stated that the success of the one-day sit-in protest reaffirmed their commitment to pursue the core demands made to the state government arising out of 48 years indefinite reservation policy.
Specially appreciating the Angami Students’ Union for making all necessary arrangements for the sit-in protest, they also thanked the district administration and law enforcing agencies for the security and traffic arrangements that ensured the passage of a peaceful gathering.
They also thanked all the participants who turned up in huge numbers to express their solidarity, stating that posterity would remember their sacrifice and dedication to ensure course correction of a reservation system that has remained unchanged for the past 48 years.