CoRRP calls sit-in protest a success, reiterates demand for reservation review
Over two thousand members of five Naga tribes staged a sit-in protest outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on Wednesday, demanding a review of the state’s job reservation policy.
The protestors, representing the Ao, Angami, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes, came together under the banner of the 5 Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP).
The committee is demanding either the scrapping of the current policy, which has been in effect since 1977, or the reallocation of unfilled reserved positions specifically to these five major tribes.
The CoRRP argues that the nearly five-decade-old reservation system no longer reflects the present socio-economic and educational realities of the various Naga communities.
Calling the one-day protest a success, the Committee stated that the demonstration “reaffirms our commitment to pursue the core demands made to the State Govt arising out of 48 years indefinite reservation policy.” In a press release issued from Dimapur on July 9, CoRRP thanked the apex tribal organizations—Angami Public Organization, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho—for their support and solidarity.
The Committee also highlighted the crucial involvement of youth and student bodies, saying, “We appreciate the exuberant involvement of the youth and student bodies from 5 tribes that continue to drive our movement.” It particularly acknowledged the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) for managing logistics for the protest.
Authorities were thanked for ensuring peace and order during the event. “We thank the district administration and law enforcing agencies for their security and traffic arrangements that ensured the passage of a peaceful gathering,” the Committee said.
“To all the participants who turned up in huge numbers to express your solidarity, posterity will remember your sacrifice and dedication to ensure course correction of a reservation system that has remained unchanged for the past 48 years,” the release stated. It was jointly signed by Convenor Er Tesinlo Semy and Member Secretary GK Zhimomi.
Despite the state government’s appeal to call off the protest, citing that the matter is under institutional review and would be discussed in the cabinet once the chief minister who is currently out of station returns, the CoRRP went ahead with the one-day sit-in protest as planned.