In a significant development for Nagaland, the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) has decided to withdraw its call for boycotting state government functions. This decision comes after the Nagaland cabinet agreed to the committee’s key demands, marking a step towards resolving recent public agitations.
The CoRRP, representing five major Naga tribes – Ao, Angami, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi – had been advocating for the renaming of the Job Reservation Commission to the Commission for Review of Reservation Policy. Furthermore, they sought an expansion of the commission’s mandate to address issues beyond just job reservations. The state government officially accepted these proposals on October 16.
In a statement released by CoRRP convenor Tesinlo Semy and member secretary GK Zhimomi, the committee announced the revocation of the boycott following a meeting with representatives from all five tribal bodies and their allied organizations. They expressed that the cabinet’s decision aligns with their September 24 representation, which emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the reservation policy across various sectors.
The committee extended its gratitude to the government for addressing their concerns and affirmed that the five apex tribal bodies are prepared to fully cooperate with the newly designated commission. The CoRRP officially declared that the boycott, which had been in effect since August 15, has now been withdrawn.
The movement to re-evaluate Nagaland’s reservation policy, which has been in place for over four decades, gained momentum after the five tribal apex bodies submitted a joint memorandum. They argued that the policy, established in 1977, no longer accurately reflects the current socio-economic and educational landscape of the state’s diverse communities.
Prior to this resolution, the committee had organized several phases of protest, including rallies across district headquarters on May 29 and a demonstration outside the Civil Secretariat on July 9, which saw participation from thousands of tribal members. The group had also declared non-cooperation with the government, including non-participation in Independence Day celebrations.
The government’s acceptance of the CoRRP’s demand for a policy review and the subsequent formation of a five-member committee, albeit initially named the Job Reservation Committee, paved the way for this resolution. The renaming to Reservation Review Commission was a crucial point, as the committee stressed their interest extended beyond job-related reservations to other areas within the state.
Historically, the policy initially allocated 25% reservation for seven tribes in non-technical and non-gazetted posts for a decade, based on educational and economic disadvantages and limited state service representation. Over time, this reservation increased to 37%, with 25% for seven Eastern Nagaland Backward Tribes and 12% for four other backward tribes.