Student bodies serve 72-hour ultimatum to Nagaland govt. over ‘job reservation’; warn of lightning protest

Dimapur, Dec. 14 (EMN): The Core Committee on Rationalisation of Reservation Policy (CCoRoRP) has served a 72-hour ultimatum to Nagaland government to form ‘an effective body’ and implement its proposals concerning job reservation.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the committee—which represents All Sumi Students’ Union, Angami Students’ Union, Ao Students’ Conference, Lotha Students’ Union, and Rengma Students’ Union—stated that it had submitted a charter of demands for total review of the existing reservation policy  on August 22, 2019.

The demands include: implementation of ‘creamy layer’ policy on reservation; pocket-wise reservation; equal criteria on educational qualification for all jobs; category options for all competitive exams; cut-off mark on reservation quota with no backlog vacancy on roster system; and time-framed review of reservation policy.

In its letter, the committee demanded a written assurance from the chief minister within 72 hours.

‘We assure that upon expiry of 72 hours, lightning protest shall be activated at any point of time. We shall not be held accountable and responsible for any unforeseen development or consequences in any fallout or complacency,’ the letter read.

The committee maintained that ‘advancement would not come miraculously by giving reservation over reservation’.

“On the contrary, every individual needs to seriously work as responsible stakeholders to bring positive changes in our society. It can objectively be stated that modern Naga society is in the process of a developing civilisation ever since the British expedition into the Naga hills followed with evangelisation and the advent of modern education by the American missionaries beginning from 1832 in which some got evolved two or more centuries ago and some much even lesser.

“It takes time for any civilisation to evolve. However, each of our tribes is in this together and nothing can stop this naturally evolving progression. In as much as reservation is required in certain areas, excelling meritocracy cannot be denied in any way. We see the present reservation policy as redundant, rugged and unjust in this proportion,” it stated.

The committee asserted that an “objectively rationale and systematic academic review” of the reservation policy should be undertaken.

“Therefore, left with no other alternative, we are compelled to bring forth this matter to you once again trusting that a sensible process would be created to ensure that manipulative, selfish and arrogant dictates would not be imposed on our people,” read the letter.