KEEPS PROTEST IN ABEYANCE; TO WAIT FOR CABINET DECISION ON AUGUST 6
Correspondent
Representatives of the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), comprising members of the five tribes—Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi—held a meeting with the State government on Monday at the invitation of the new chief secretary, Sentiyanger Imchen.
The meeting, which took place in the conference room of chief secretary, Nagaland civil secretariat, was attended by senior government officials, including the principal secretary law & justice, the home commissioner, and commissioner of personnel & administrative reforms (P&AR). Discussions centred on the long-standing demands of the five tribes regarding the state’s job reservation policy.
According to CoRRP convenor, Er Tesinlo Semy, the chief secretary informed the delegation that the state cabinet would deliberate on their demands during its upcoming sitting scheduled for August 6, 2025. He also stated that the outcome of the cabinet’s decision would be communicated to the committee after the meeting.
Semy clarified that the five tribes continued to uphold their core demand, which includes a comprehensive review of the existing reservation system and the elimination of tribe-wise backlog reservations.
He disclosed that no changes have been made to those primary demands, adding that no fresh memorandum was submitted during Monday’s meeting.
The present reservation policy, which lies at the heart of the dispute, was introduced through a government notification dated January 11, 1977. Under this policy, 25% of vacancies in non-technical and non-gazetted posts were reserved for seven tribes classified as “educationally and economically very backward.” The policy, issued under Article 16(4) of the Indian Constitution, was initially intended to be in force for a period of 10 years. However, it has remained unchanged for over four decades.
Semy pointed out that the disparity arising from the continuation of the policy has negatively affected the so-called “advanced” tribes, particularly in the context of government employment.
He said that many qualified candidates from five tribes were left demoralised as large portions of job vacancies remain reserved, and in many instances, candidates from the backward tribes secured jobs under both the open and reserved categories. He said this led to the under-representation of the advanced tribes in government services.
Although the government had previously announced the formation of a commission to review the policy, Semy said the commission’s structure and terms of reference were still being finalised.
At today’s meeting, government officials assured that the composition of the commission and its Terms of Reference would be finalised within a fortnight.
The five tribes have staged multiple protests and rallies across the state in support of their demand, including a demonstration held outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat last month.
Asked whether further protests were being planned, Semy indicated that the next course of action would depend on the outcome of the Cabinet’s decision.
He said third phase of agitation, earlier proposed by the group, would be temporarily suspended at the request of the state government.
In a joint press release, CoRRP convenor Er Tesinlo Semy and member secretary G.K. Zhimomi confirmed that the meeting held on August 4 was convened in response to the chief secretary’s invitation dated August 2.
The committee reiterated that the discussions focused on the core demands raised by the five tribes and the state government’s response to date. It also affirmed that, as per the state government’s assurance, the Cabinet would take a final call on the matter on August 6 and that the commission to review the policy would be constituted within two weeks.
While awaiting the Cabinet’s decision, the committee has agreed to keep its proposed third phase of agitation in abeyance.