Five Naga-Tribes To Resume Agitation Against Nagaland’s Employment Reservation Policy On July 9

The Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) representing the five major Naga tribes – Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Suni announced the resumption of its agitation in response to Nagaland’s reservation policy in government employment from July 9. The protest will commence with a sit-in protest at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat at 9 A.M.

The committee argues that the quota system for 11 “backward” Naga tribes, in place since 1977, no longer reflects the prevailing socio-economic and educational landscape of the region. The list comprises seven tribes that inhabit eastern Nagaland. It had earlier put forth the demands for the state government to either scrap the existing reservation policy or allocate the unreserved quota to the five tribes it represents. 

The decision was reached during a joint consultative meeting in Kohima in response to the government’s lack of response to their demands, The Nagaland Tribune reported. “If the government has the political will, addressing the issue is not difficult," said Captain G.K. Zhimomi, Member-Secretary of the committee. 

The group’s initial protest was suspended after Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton convened a meeting on June 3 and assured that a commission would be set up by June 17 to examine the matter. However, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, on July 2 claimed that the proposed commission should not be expected to give out immediate results as the task is “very detailed”. 

He also added that such administrative reforms including those related to reservations or delimitation, should be undertaken only after the national Census exercise scheduled for 2027, The Hindu reported. 

Despite the protest, several students from the backward castes have voiced their opposition stating that any dilution of the current policy would disproportionately harm the State’s marginalized communities.