Women reservation petition grabs eyeballs for wrong reasons

Dimapur, Feb. 17: “Support 33% Reservation for Women in Nagaland”- an online campaign started by Inotoli Zhimomi and Dolly Kikon from Melbourne, Australia, aims to petition Prime Minister of India and other members that include Chief Minister of Nagaland, Naga Hoho, Joint Coordination Committee, Nagaland Tribes Action Committee, Nagaland State Commission for Women and National Human Rights Commission. The campaign launched on February 15, 2017, through Change.org is an appeal to support 33% women reservation and women’s participation in political decision making. Change.org is an online world’s platform where people from anywhere can campaign and mobilise supporters to drive solutions. The petition highlighted on Nagaland situation after an indefinite bandh called by men’s tribal bodies, following their opposition to the implementation of the 33% women reservation in the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) since 2006, when the first Amendment for the Nagaland Municipal Act was enacted. ‘Naga men’s tribal bodies have vehemently opposed such reservation on the grounds that it violates Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution,’ it said. Their petition also maintains: ‘several legal appeals from the Naga Mothers’ Association have resulted in a series of successful court rulings ordering the State Assembly to introduce the reservation. However, the State government was pressured to postpone the election scheduled for February 1, 2017 after violent protests led by men’s tribal bodies resulting in the death of two young men. Emphasising on Article 371 (A), their appeal letter asserts “Naga women’s quest for gender justice will be pushed even further backwards and the structural injustice they face even greater if such a cowardly suggestion by the Nagaland Government is adopted”. To facilitate peaceful process for the Naga women’s political participation, the petition demanded the Government of India to refrain from granting exemption to the State of Nagaland from Part IX A of the Constitution, facilitate the State Government to uphold the rule of law and implement the 33% reservation as per the binding order of the Supreme Court, resume the Urban Local Body (ULB) election procedure while ensuring the safety of the women candidates and voters. The petition has acquired 356 supporters till filing of this report. However, the encouraging petition went all wrong when it grabbed the eyeballs for all wrong depiction or a brave move- a photo of a man in traditional attire with bare backside. The poster applied to correspond to their petition has not been received well by the social media users (both men and women) who were undeniably against portraying Naga community in poor light. The petition which was shared on a Facebook page received disapproval in which one user commented: “I am a woman, but after seeing the poster or a picture, I must say it's shameful to protest with that poster. Since time immemorial, men and women has been a co-partner in building up family and society.” The comment made by this female user tries to justify that Naga women do not go through the torture of dowry system, lack of education or family decision making. “I find the poster objectionable. It makes us Naga women look like 'comfort women''. I think at this juncture when feelings are running high and things are still unstable, a little sensitivity is required from all quarters,” another user commented. “As soon as I saw and read this signature campaign, I was like 'oh no! What an embarrassment to consider even putting up such posters or such campaign,” commented a female user. Beauty queen Imlibenla Wati, who once intended to contest, expressed her disappointment with the turn of events in the State. “Naga women do not need any reservation quota as we are equally capable of fighting alongside men folk and there is no customary law/rule preventing women from participation,” asserted the beauty queen. Reservation proves we are not capable to stand on our feet. I was ready to contest the election without reservation and will continue not to seek for reservation as men have also understood the value of women’s participation in politics,’ maintains Imlibenla. Another woman candidate Tokheli Kikon expressed her shock with the unrest but still confident that she will fight the battle even without reservation. Sharing her working years with men, she says, ‘our intention is to work for people and will prove people that there is no partition in Naga society.’ ‘There is no disparity and discrimination in Nagaland,’ noted Tokheli and affirmed she will have no regrets even if there is no election as she will continue to serve people but anticipate that every individual comes to an understanding. The petition copies will also be delivered to The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Commission on the Status of Women (UN), Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (India) and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights.