Oppose state govt’s inclusion of CSOs in review committee
Expressing strong resentment over the inclusion of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the newly constituted Reservation Review Commission (RRC), the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) along with their respective apex bodies on Saturday announced that they would abstain from all State government functions– including the Independence Day celebrations on August 15– as part of the third phase of their agitation.
The decision was taken during a joint meeting of the five tribal apex bodies, youth and student organisations, and 5 Tribes CoRRP held at Hotel URA, Kohima.
Addressing the media after the meeting, CoRRP convenor Er. Tesinlo Semy appreciated the Cabinet’s decision to set up the commission but reiterated opposition to the inclusion of CSOs, insisting it should comprise only retired or serving government officials to ensure independence and impartiality.
“We will not participate in or attend any government functions, including the Independence Day celebration,” Semy stated, adding that the decision was taken to press for a commission free from external influence.
CoRRP member secretary, G.K. Zhimomi, reminded that the idea of constituting the commission was not their original demand but an outcome of the June 3 meeting with the state government led by deputy chief minister Y. Patton.
According to Zhimomi, the State Cabinet on June 12 had agreed in principle to set up the commission, but the composition was only revealed on August 6—now a seven-member body including CSO representatives. “We had made it clear from the beginning that CSOs should not be part of the commission. The commission must be independent for a fair and impartial assessment of the reservation policy. That remains our stand,” he said.
On Parliamentary Affairs minister K.G. Kenye’s recent statement that 64% of government employment is held by the five advanced tribes and 34% by backward tribes, Zhimomi dismissed the claim as “wildly imaginary” and “way beyond the mark.” He asserted that CoRRP has its own data, which would be revealed at the appropriate time, and cautioned ministers against making statements that could “provoke the situation.”
Responding to the government’s claim of neutrality, Zhimomi questioned why its spokesperson was “justifying 48 years of an indefinite policy” by comparing it to the SC/ST reservation at the Centre, which has continued for 78 years.
He said the two were entirely different issues, pointing out that all Nagas enjoy ST reservation, but this had “nothing to do” with the State’s backward tribe reservation policy.
When asked if CoRRP planned to engage with tribes availing backward quota, Zhimomi said it was the government’s duty to consult both sides and work out a fair resolution.
On the way forward, Zhimomi said CoRRP welcomed the formation of the commission and accepted the six-month timeframe to submit its report, but strongly opposed the inclusion of CSOs. He warned that any delay or extension would be totally unacceptable.
He further stressed that the government must implement the commission’s recommendations immediately upon submission, without waiting for the outcome of the census. “If the state government insists on linking the reservation review outcome with the census, then we demand that the reservation be suspended till such time,” he added.
CoRRP adopts resolution: Meanwhile, CoRRP on Saturday unanimously adopted several resolutions following the meeting.
According to the resolutions signed by member secretary GK Zhimomi, the meeting reiterated its opposition to the composition of the Reservation Review Commission (RRC) which includes members from civil society organisations, while reaffirming the consensus decision taken at the June 3, 2025 meeting with the state government to have an independent commission.
The meeting accepted the state cabinet’s August 6 decision to give RRC six months to submit its recommendations, but asserted that any delay or extension of its tenure would be unacceptable.
It resolved that the state government must implement RRC’s recommendations immediately upon submission, without waiting for the completion of the census.
The house further stated that if the government insisted on linking RRC’s outcome to the next census, the BT reservation should be suspended till then.
The resolutions stated that the above points would be communicated to the state government and warned that failure to provide a satisfactory or nil response would result in the five tribal bodies, their frontal organisations and sub-units abstaining from all State government functions, including the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.