Representatives from Nagaland’s prominent Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes have delivered a stark 30-day ultimatum to the state government, insisting on immediate movement regarding their long-standing appeal for a review and subsequent reform of the Nagaland Job Reservation Policy for Backward Tribes.
In a formal communication directed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the nominated representatives of these five apex tribal bodies conveyed their profound disappointment at the perceived lack of response from the government. They emphasized that a memorandum detailing their concerns was submitted on September 20, 2024, yet no concrete action or even acknowledgment has been forthcoming in the ensuing half-year.
The collective stance of the five tribes centers on the assertion that the existing reservation framework, operational for nearly five decades, has disproportionately favored backward tribes, often to the detriment of those categorized as advanced within the state. Their argument underscores the original intent of the policy, which stipulated a decennial review, a provision seemingly bypassed by a 1989 notification that permitted the policy’s indefinite continuation without periodic evaluation.
The memorandum sharply criticized the state administration for allegedly disregarding crucial recommendations previously put forth by various committees. These recommendations addressed vital aspects such as the policy’s duration, the implementation of internal reservations, instances of multiple benefit claims, the establishment of a creamy layer classification, inconsistencies in entry age criteria, and the handling of backlog reserved positions. The tribal representatives cautioned that an unexamined and perpetual reservation system carries the inherent risk of fostering economic disparities, discriminatory practices, and social friction amongst the Scheduled Tribe communities of Nagaland.
Their demands are unequivocal: either the complete dismantling of the current job reservation system or the exclusive allocation of the remaining unreserved quota to their five tribes, which they assert constitute approximately 55% of Nagaland’s total Scheduled Tribe population. With the 30-day deadline now in effect, the Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes have signaled a clear intent to pursue further action should their demands remain unaddressed.