As Nagaland sees itself embroiled in several contentious issues, bloggers throw caution to the wind, taking on a more reflective and introspective air in reaction to: “The Government of Nagaland wants to review in total the controversial job reservation policy in Nagaland (Morung Express, August 3, 2011)”. The train of thoughts began with...
Sashi Jamir: Let us give our opinions so something good can come out during the review of the reservation policy.
Raajellung Gonmei: We need to scrap the reservation policy among Nagas at least in Nagaland. We talk of a competitive world but this policy will not get Nagas anywhere. If we want a developed state that is free of “isms”, then scrapping the reservation policy should be the first step to be initiated by the government.
Peter Rutsa: Reservation is too complex a political and social issue for me to comprehend and comment as of now. However, it would not be a bad idea if those who make it through the backward quota serve only in their respective districts. As for those who get a job without reservation, congratulations, please speak up against reservation!
Kaks Chishi: Reservation does not mean that the candidates under it are less capable; it is only a ladder to help those who were denied a fair chance of competition due to economic, educational or social hindrances. No system is perfect, but instead of scrapping it, I would prefer reforms — the government should consider the income of the family and other such means so that only the deserving candidates enjoy the reservation.
Raithu Newmai: The reservation policy of the government is to uplift the weaker section of the society to fulfill the constitutional rights of equality to all sections of people of the Indian Union. The only detrimental issue with the reservation policy of Nagaland is the non-transparency in its implementation. Above all, the so-called “backward tribes quota” for jobs and educational opportunities are grabbed by the families of ministers, bureaucrats and the upper echelon of the backward tribes thereby rendering the reservation policy meaningless since it does not benefit the deserving candidates.
Peter Rutsa: I’m not for scraping reservation immediately; we should instead work something out to plug the increasing gap between the “advanced” and the “backward” at the earliest. However, I believe the capabilities of some reserved candidates are debatable, Kaks Chishi.
Omega G Achumi: If the government was really concerned about “uplifting” certain sections of the society, it should have poured in funds for the development in these selected regions — from improving the quality of education, road and transports, power, water supply, medical facilities etc. — so that the weaker section may rise up and be on par with the “advanced tribes”. Merely handing out seats under reservation ain’t gonna bring any development! It is time, the government adopted different approaches.
Paul Yepthomi: More focus should be given by the govt. to improve the education system. When it comes to good educational centres, it’s Dimapur, Kohima, or Mokukchung — more work needs to be done towards developing Tuensang, Zenhuboto, Kiphere, Mon etc., as well.
Kaks Chishi: I agree with what Omega said: The government should develop these backward areas so that there is change and the areas can come on par with the “developed” areas. But, until that happens, we need reservation! I am not saying forever but until a balance is reached in equal development, so that the backward tribes can also have a fair chance of competition. Take a look at the difference between a government school student and a student from a private school in Dimapur and Kohima — it is so glaring that we don’t even want to call it a competition, do we? Now think of a student in Mon, Kiphire etc.
Omega G Achumi: Reservations undermine good governance, fairness, social justice and distorts competition. “Until that happens we need reservation...”; but for how long? If reservation lightens the burden of the backward tribes, given as it is that it has been going on for some time now, shouldn’t their burden be a lot “lighter” by now? In order to see a change we have to be the change first.
Kaks Chishi: I disagree that the reservation system has failed completely. A certain person from Peter Rutsa’s village had joined the ranks of an IAS officer a few years ago through reservation, weren’t many younger people inspired and encouraged to join the administrative services? And I’m sure we can’t contest that he would be a less capable administrator just because he made it through the reservation system. Like I said before, the concept of reservation is within the scope of the Constitution and the Constitution expects reservation to end when the very reasons for which they were introduced in the first place does not exist. Our government can review the policy from time to time and stop it when the backward tribes are at par with other tribes.
Omega G Achumi: But, it will go on, review after review I fear...
Kaks Chishi: Lets try to stay positive — there are issues with reservation but the problem is not reservation per se but the dirty politics that gets involved in it. I long to see a Nagaland where all tribes are are equal and we would no longer find the need for any reservation.
Omega G Achumi: Come on! It’s not fair to drag politics into everything or blame politics for all the things that go wrong — the fault lies in us, you and me, and no one else. As the saying goes: “As long as there is life in us, there is hope"; so let’s hope for the best.
Sashi Jamir: The state government should announce the number of vacant post along with the reservation for BT and a separate merit list should be announced so that every candidate is selected against their own vacancy.
(The Naga Blog was created in 2008 by Yanpvuo Kikon & Alem Ao. This column in the Morung Express will be a weekly feature every Saturday)
Sashi Jamir: Let us give our opinions so something good can come out during the review of the reservation policy.
Raajellung Gonmei: We need to scrap the reservation policy among Nagas at least in Nagaland. We talk of a competitive world but this policy will not get Nagas anywhere. If we want a developed state that is free of “isms”, then scrapping the reservation policy should be the first step to be initiated by the government.
Peter Rutsa: Reservation is too complex a political and social issue for me to comprehend and comment as of now. However, it would not be a bad idea if those who make it through the backward quota serve only in their respective districts. As for those who get a job without reservation, congratulations, please speak up against reservation!
Kaks Chishi: Reservation does not mean that the candidates under it are less capable; it is only a ladder to help those who were denied a fair chance of competition due to economic, educational or social hindrances. No system is perfect, but instead of scrapping it, I would prefer reforms — the government should consider the income of the family and other such means so that only the deserving candidates enjoy the reservation.
Raithu Newmai: The reservation policy of the government is to uplift the weaker section of the society to fulfill the constitutional rights of equality to all sections of people of the Indian Union. The only detrimental issue with the reservation policy of Nagaland is the non-transparency in its implementation. Above all, the so-called “backward tribes quota” for jobs and educational opportunities are grabbed by the families of ministers, bureaucrats and the upper echelon of the backward tribes thereby rendering the reservation policy meaningless since it does not benefit the deserving candidates.
Peter Rutsa: I’m not for scraping reservation immediately; we should instead work something out to plug the increasing gap between the “advanced” and the “backward” at the earliest. However, I believe the capabilities of some reserved candidates are debatable, Kaks Chishi.
Omega G Achumi: If the government was really concerned about “uplifting” certain sections of the society, it should have poured in funds for the development in these selected regions — from improving the quality of education, road and transports, power, water supply, medical facilities etc. — so that the weaker section may rise up and be on par with the “advanced tribes”. Merely handing out seats under reservation ain’t gonna bring any development! It is time, the government adopted different approaches.
Paul Yepthomi: More focus should be given by the govt. to improve the education system. When it comes to good educational centres, it’s Dimapur, Kohima, or Mokukchung — more work needs to be done towards developing Tuensang, Zenhuboto, Kiphere, Mon etc., as well.
Kaks Chishi: I agree with what Omega said: The government should develop these backward areas so that there is change and the areas can come on par with the “developed” areas. But, until that happens, we need reservation! I am not saying forever but until a balance is reached in equal development, so that the backward tribes can also have a fair chance of competition. Take a look at the difference between a government school student and a student from a private school in Dimapur and Kohima — it is so glaring that we don’t even want to call it a competition, do we? Now think of a student in Mon, Kiphire etc.
Omega G Achumi: Reservations undermine good governance, fairness, social justice and distorts competition. “Until that happens we need reservation...”; but for how long? If reservation lightens the burden of the backward tribes, given as it is that it has been going on for some time now, shouldn’t their burden be a lot “lighter” by now? In order to see a change we have to be the change first.
Kaks Chishi: I disagree that the reservation system has failed completely. A certain person from Peter Rutsa’s village had joined the ranks of an IAS officer a few years ago through reservation, weren’t many younger people inspired and encouraged to join the administrative services? And I’m sure we can’t contest that he would be a less capable administrator just because he made it through the reservation system. Like I said before, the concept of reservation is within the scope of the Constitution and the Constitution expects reservation to end when the very reasons for which they were introduced in the first place does not exist. Our government can review the policy from time to time and stop it when the backward tribes are at par with other tribes.
Omega G Achumi: But, it will go on, review after review I fear...
Kaks Chishi: Lets try to stay positive — there are issues with reservation but the problem is not reservation per se but the dirty politics that gets involved in it. I long to see a Nagaland where all tribes are are equal and we would no longer find the need for any reservation.
Omega G Achumi: Come on! It’s not fair to drag politics into everything or blame politics for all the things that go wrong — the fault lies in us, you and me, and no one else. As the saying goes: “As long as there is life in us, there is hope"; so let’s hope for the best.
Sashi Jamir: The state government should announce the number of vacant post along with the reservation for BT and a separate merit list should be announced so that every candidate is selected against their own vacancy.
(The Naga Blog was created in 2008 by Yanpvuo Kikon & Alem Ao. This column in the Morung Express will be a weekly feature every Saturday)
