The Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), representing the Ao, Angami, Sumi, Lotha and Rengma tribes, has reignited calls to overturn the reservation framework adopted in 1977. Originally introduced for a ten-year span beginning in 1977, the reservation scheme was loosely extended in 1989 “until further orders,” allowing it to remain unexamined for nearly five decades. An internal reservation mechanism that omits any creamy-layer exclusion has repeatedly advantaged some groups while sidelining others. Flexible categorization rules, inconsistent age relaxations and shifting cutoff marks have produced anomalies. Forty-seven teaching posts remain vacant today because candidates from reserved groups fall short of eligibility criteria, even as qualified aspirants from the five major tribes await placement. Over time, quotas for certain backward tribes have swelled to 37 percent, cutting into opportunities for communities deemed more “advanced.” CoRRP members demand that all unfilled reserved positions be redirected exclusively to these five communities. Nagaland’s government indicated its agreement in principle on June 3, 2025, by promising to establish a review commission by mid-June, but progress has since ground to a halt. Officials maintain that any permanent arrangements must await the national census in 2027 so that demographic planning rests on reliable figures. Echoing these, Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio stressed that without updated population data any administrative, reservation or delimitation reforms risk being temporary and misguided. CoRRP countered by maintain that decisive political will could secure fair representation and merit-based recruitment immediately, rather than deferring to a census that is two years away. This argument emphasizes that the urgency of restoring equity in public services cannot afford a prolonged wait. Meanwhile, seven tribes from Eastern Nagaland-the Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Yimchunger, Chang, Khiamniungan and Chakhesang and Zeliang-are pressing for their quota to rise from 25 percent to 45 percent. They point to entrenched regional imbalances and contend that a greater share of reserved vacancies is necessary to correct historical neglect. Their demands layer another dimension onto a policy debate already strained by competing tribal interests. This convergence of calls to dismantle, recalibrate or expand the reservation policy raises fundamental questions about how Nagaland balances equity with meritocracy. Unlike caste-based reservations rooted in long-standing social prejudices, tribal quotas in Nagaland primarily aim to alleviate economic disadvantage. Yet because benefits accrue to individuals rather than to whole communities, the emergence of a prosperous “creamy layer” has introduced its own inequities. Rising competition among dozens of tribes has strained the system’s capacity to absorb aspirants in equal measure. The path forward hinges on strengthening the state’s human capital. Real progress requires robust investment in education and infrastructure, particularly in regions that remain economically underserved. Many educational institutions in far flung districts lack adequate faculty and basic facilities. Worse, unreliable road connections during the monsoon further isolate students. Healthy, inclusive dialogue is needed to identify the root causes of deprivation and be grounded in meticulously compiled data on demographic shifts and wealth distribution. If Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reservation policy were ever to be reassessed, would social order fracture or would it prompt renewed commitment to central grants for education, research and infrastructure? A nation of over a billion cannot fulfill its promise unless those at the base of the pyramid are empowered through quality schooling and access to resources. Ultimately, Nagaland’s next policy moves will set a precedent for justice, growth and solidarity across its diverse tribal landscape.
Monday, July 21, 2025