Feminists Condemn Opposition To Women’s Reservation In Nagaland Municipal Councils

We, the undersigned women’s organisations and concerned individuals take serious note of the fierce opposition to women’s reservation of 33% seats in Nagaland Municipal Councils by male dominated tribal bodies in Nagaland in the name of protecting their tradition and customary practices that bar women from participating in decision-making bodies. We strongly condemn this anti-woman position of Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) that has been formed supposedly to “protect” Naga tribal practices. While NTAC quotes Article 371(A) of the Constitution to assert that they are empowered to make their own laws, they choose to ignore Constitutional principle of equality before law, thus denying the Naga women their electoral rights.

Time and again women’s movements in India have confronted issues of community identity vs the rights of women. In almost every instance, communities and their leaders have chosen to sacrifice the rights of women to safeguard patriarchal practices in the name of tradition and custom. In the present imbroglio NTAC has used threats and violence to prevent women from filing their nominations, or even to withdraw their papers. Through all this, the State government has remained silent spectator and tried to wash its hands off on the issue of women’s representation in local bodies by cancelling the elections to local bodies under pressure from these tribal bodies by merely citing law and order concerns. In the process, the State has become complicit in protecting patriarchal traditions to the detriment of principles of gender equality. What is not being asserted is that Urban Local Bodies are not traditional Naga institutions recognised by Article 371(A) of the Constitution but rather, Constitutional bodies under Part IX of the Constitution over which the traditional Naga bodies have no mandate.

We strongly condemn the unconstitutional demand of the NTAC and the succumbing of the state government to the pressures of this body. We stand strongly with the struggle of Naga Mothers Association and others who have consistently been fighting for peace, jusice and the rights of Naga women for political representation in local bodies since 2006 when the Nagaland Municipal (First Amendment) Act was enacted granting 33% reservations to Naga women in local bodies.

We demand:
• Immediate resumption of the electoral process for Nagaland Municipal Councils.
• The state government must stop colluding with powers that promote anti-women practices of communities.
• The state government must implement the 33% political representation of women in local bodies with immediate effect.
• The state government must uphold the rights of women, in this and other areas of law and governance.

Signed by over 150 women and women’s organisations:
Organisations

1.         Saheli Women’s Resource Centre
2.         LABIA – A Queer Feminist LBT Collective
3.         Forum Against Oppression of Women
4.         Zubaan
5.         Stree Mukti Sangathan
6.         Anhad – Act Now for Harmony & Democracy
7.         NAPM – National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements
8.         Sappho for Equality
9.         Pennurimai Iyakkam
10.     Pann Nu Foundation
11.     All India Progressive Women’s Association
12.     Olakh
13.     Akshara
14.     North East Network
15.     Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti
16.     Nirantar
17.     Kosi Navnirman Manch
18.     Joint Women’s Program
19.     Bebaak Collective
20.     Matu Kan Sangathan
21.     Sangatin Samooh
22.     CASAM
23.     SANGRAM
24.     Feminism in India
25.     Partners in Law Development
26.     Women Power Connect
27.     Gender, Livelihoods and Resources Forum
28.     Food Sovereignty Alliance
29.     IRDSO Manipur