Nagaland is abuzz with a pressing demand from its indigenous communities, as the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy has submitted a compelling memorandum to the Chief Minister. The committee, representing the Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho, is calling for a thorough review and reform of the Nagaland Job Reservation Policy for Backward Tribes.
This move comes after nearly five decades since the policy was last reviewed. The current policy, in place since 1975, reserves 37% of government jobs for Backward Tribes (BTs), with 25% allocated to the seven tribes of Eastern Nagaland and 12% for the remaining four BTs. However, the committee argues that this distribution has led to significant economic disparities and discrimination among the Scheduled Tribes in Nagaland.
The policy was initially designed to be reviewed every ten years but was extended indefinitely in 1989 without a comprehensive assessment. Previous recommendations from various committees have been largely ignored, except for minor adjustments that failed to address the core issues.
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The 5 Tribes Committee is now demanding either the abolition of the current policy or the reservation of the remaining unreserved quota exclusively for the five tribes that make up nearly 55% of Nagaland’s Scheduled Tribe population. They contend that the continued implementation of the existing policy poses a serious risk of inequality and social unrest.
At the heart of their plea is a desire for fairness and equal opportunities in government employment. By advocating for a more balanced approach, the committee hopes to mitigate existing disparities and foster a more equitable society within Nagaland.
