Women in Nagaland are determined to break the tradition of male dominance in state politics. While the Neiphiu Rio government has revoked a notification doing away with 33 per cent quota for women in Nagalands civic bodies,the womens forum fighting for the quota has said it would contest the polls despite strong opposition from various traditional tribal bodies. Naga women are determined to assert their rights and achieve the 33 per cent quota despite strong opposition from some people. Now that the government has been compelled by the High Court to revoke the decision to do away with the quota,we expect the government to give us full security to protect candidates, said Rosemary Dzuvichi,a member of the Joint Action Committee for Womens Rights (JACWR) in Kohima. The JACWR,an umbrella body of various womens groups including the State Womens Commission that was formed in the wake of the urban development department withdrawing 33 per cent reservation for women in November 2009,finally got the Gauhati High Court to direct the state government to ensure the quota. Last week,the state government issued a fresh notification for reserving wards for women in the three municipal councils and 16 town committees of the state. But despite the High Court order,several traditional tribal bodies have asked the state government to stop the quota. Last Saturday,the Naga Hoho,the highest apex body of Naga tribal councils,along with Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) met the Chief Minister and placed fresh demand for reviewing the quota facility for women. Their contention is that reservation for women was detrimental to customary Naga practices and the state Municipal Act infringed upon Article 371(A) of the Constitution which provides special safeguards to Nagaland. Dimapur District Gaon-Burra Association said reservation for women would invite corruption and the Naga Hoho said Naga society would be in shambles if women were granted 33 per cent quota in civic bodies.
