Kangkan Acharyya - Nagaland civic polls: Naga tribes to boycott elections to protest 33% reservation for women
Age old patriarchal
system and aspiring feminism are at loggerheads in Nagaland as major tribes
boycott forthcoming municipal election protesting the state government’s move
to reserve 33% of the seats for women. The tussle has
resulted in dismal figures in nominations filed in 11 districts of the state in
the last two days. The last date of filing nominations is 7 January and the
election will be held on 1 February.
The diktat to boycott
the election came from the civil society organizations representing various
tribal groups, just a day before the election office opened up to receive
nomination on 3 January. A press statement
published by Ao Sengden, a body of the Ao Tribe, in the Eastern Mirror issued dictat prohibiting the
people from participating in the election saying that anyone from the Ao
community found violating this order would be liable to “questioning and
appropriate punishment”.
Dr. Vihusa Seleyi,
President of the Angami Public Organisation which has also called for
boycotting the municipal polls, told Firstpost that the
organization will intensify the agitation wherever it finds opposition. It also
said that the protesters are ready to face any consequence in a bid to
successfully implement the order.
“The Article 371 (A)
of the Indian Constitution empowers the Naga people to decide their own laws as
per customs and traditions. We do not have any problem if women take up
political leadership. But the Naga Mothers Association dragged the matter to
the Supreme Court without discussion with the people. This has caused
resentment,” said Seleyi.
Rosemary Dzuvichu, the
adviser of the Naga Mothers Association had filed a case in the Supreme Court
demanding 33% reservation of seats in civic polls. In an earlier interview with Firstpost, she had said that since the case was
still being heard by the apex court and no stay order was issued by it, there
was no legal obstacle in holding the election with 33% reservation for women. Dr. Vihusa Seleyi
further said that the Naga Mothers Association also convinced the government to
proceed with the election reserving 33% of seats for women, without any
consultation with the ‘Naga Society’.
Hokiye Sema, the
President of Central Naga Tribal Council which also demands abolishing of the
provision of reservation of seats for women in the civic polls told Firstpost,
“In Naga society a woman is not considered to be equal to men. She is not even
allowed to speak in Panchayat until and unless she is summoned by it. Providing
33% reservation to women amounts to giving her the same status as men and it
gives men inferiority complex.” He also said that the
Naga society has been following the customary laws for more than thousand years
and those cannot be just wiped out.
“Even the Parliament
has not passed the bill of 33% reservation for women. But why the Chief
Minister of Nagaland is so much anxious to implement this provision?” he asks. He also says that it
is the government’s responsibility to protect the rights of the Naga People as
provided for in the Constitution of India in the Article 371(A). Maintaining that his
organization has no other problem with the Municipal Act passed by the
government of Nagaland except the provision of 33% reservation for women. “In
India men are considered to be superior than woman as per customs and that has
to be taken very seriously,” he added. Nagaland state
Assembly does not have a single woman as it’s member.
Chakhasang Public
Organisation another tribal body that has joined hands in the agitation has
different view on the issue. President K Lea told Firstpost,
“The Municipal Act passed recently was not deliberated properly before bringing
it into force. It infringes upon the rights of the Naga people to develop their
own land. After this Act is brought into force we will have to take permission
from the municipality to develop our own land, whereas the Article 371(A) of
the Indian Constitution provides us with the right to decide upon to what to do
with our resources.”
The Article 371(A) in
the constitution says, “Notwithsatanding anything in this Constitution, (a) no
Act of Parliament in respect of (1) religious or social practices of Nagas,(2)
Naga customary law and procedure,(3) and administration of civil and criminal
justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law,(4) ownership and
transfer of land and it’s resources, shall apply to the state of Nagaland
unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.”
Some of the Naga
leaders also contended that the new Municipality Act was brought into force
only to derive more funds from the central government. Kohima, the capital of
Nagaland has been selected as a city to be developed under the smart city
project declared by the central government. As per guidelines a special purpose
vehicle has to be formed with the elected body of the concerned municipality.
But Kohima has not held the urban local body election for a decade.
The Nagaland Municipal
Act 2001 was amended in the year 2006 to incorporate the provision of 33%
reservation for women. The government of
Nagaland in a recent cabinet meeting has decided to proceed with the election
despite protests and it held the view that reservation of 33% of seats will not
infringe upon the rights of the Naga people, according to a press release
issued by Menukhol John, Principal Secretary, Department of Municipal Affairs.
Nagaland has already
provided for 25% reservation in seats for woman in Village Development Boards. TI Merry an office
bearer of the ruling Naga People’s Front told Firstpost that
many prospective candidates are still in consultation with the tribal
organizations to convince them to suspend their agitation programme. Meanwhile, Rosemary
Dzuvichu holds that the Municipal Election has nothing to do with Naga culture
as per an order passed by the apex court earlier.
It is to be noted that
Municipal Elections in India is held as per 74th amendment of the Indian
constitution and reserving 33% of the seats for women is a Constitutional
mandate.
