Without wasting much space or time writing a lengthy article (on the Urban Local BodyElections and the sharp divide over the issue of 33% women reservation), may I put forward the following suggestion for consideration of the State government and Naga civil society.
1. The Urban Local Body (ULB) election be postponed to a later date but not beyond one month.
2. The government and Naga civil society agree to conduct ULB elections with 33% reservation on a trial basis only for Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC). Given the cosmopolitan nature and its importance as a major trade hub, Dimapur (DMC) can be a good starting place to try and test 33% women reservation.
3. Respecting the sentiments of Naga civil society—the present sensitivity and fear that Article 371 (A) will be weakened, ULB elections in the rest of the districts will be held without the provision of 33% reservation.
4. The political parties in Nagaland may take a collective decision to reserve a certain percent, whether 25% or even 33%, as party tickets for women candidates. This can be done for the present ULB elections or in the near future.
5. To end the present imbroglio, the government and civil society will have to give and take. Hopefully the above suggestion is both face saving and a win-win formulation for both sides, atleast for the immediate.
Much is at stake for Nagaland. Without having fully functional and democratically elected local bodies for some years now, development of our urban and town centres have suffered. Also with State Capital Kohima, already declared as a Smart City, and other big ticket programmes lined up for the other urban and town areas, we can ill afford toremain on the peripheral.
Along Longkumer
Former Editor, The Morung Express
