Nagaland MLA Achumbemo Kikon has called for a transformative shift in the state’s reservation policy, advocating for job reservations to be gradually phased out and redirected into the educational sector.
Speaking as the chief guest at a felicitation programme organized by the Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland at Jubilee Hall, St Xavier Parish Church, Jalukie, Kikon said: “Reservation should be given to the educational sector now by providing more well-equipped teachers to the remote areas and the necessary tech required for educating the students.”
The event was held to honor NBSE HSLC Rank 1 holder Lungyihangle Nring of St Paul Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur, who scored 98.67%, along with other meritorious HSLC and HSSLC students from the Zeliangrong community.
As Chairman of both the SDPDB Bhandari and the Environment and Climate Change Committee of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Kikon used the occasion to propose a new framework for equitable reservation.
“Reservation should be based on socio-economic status and regional infrastructural development rather than solely on tribal classification,” he said.
He proposed two concrete steps to transition reservation from employment to the education sector:
Limited continuation of existing quota: ”Since the government is finding it difficult to review the existing backward quota till the exercise of new census is completed, the government can at least set the duration of the continuation of the existing backward quota to about 2 to 3 years at most.”
Shift reservation to education: After this period, he suggested, “the reservation will be in a different form—change the job reservation into educational reservation.”
He elaborated that this could take the form of “a special incentive or let us say scholarship… given to those identified areas/pocket-wise,” which could be used for “special tuition for the students” and to “depute extra teachers in all government-run schools with special allowance apart from their normal pay.”
He asserted that if these propositions are adopted, “the citizens/students who belong to those backward localities/areas will definitely catch up and compete with the rest of the advanced citizens (areas) within no time, if not they will be able to overtake the rest of the advanced (areas) amongst the Naga communities.”
Kikon also questioned whether individuals who have already benefitted from reservations still need it, stating that those in the so-called “creamy layer… might no longer require reservation benefits, thereby allowing those in genuinely disadvantaged circumstances to receive the support they need.”
He praised the INICIO Foundation for recognizing three HSLC students from remote areas who overcame hardship, saying, “this is the kind of support system that truly reflects the spirit of reservation.”
Noting that Jalukie and its surroundings have better access to infrastructure due to proximity to Kohima and Dimapur, he encouraged attention to those regions still lagging behind.
The MLA also used the occasion to call for unity among the Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Inpui sub-tribes, saying “they are one family.” He urged the Zeliangrong community to continue playing “a vital role in promoting solidarity among the Nagas as a whole.”
In his congratulatory message to the toppers, Kikon recalled that the last HSLC state topper from the Zeliangrong community was Cherakung Zeliang in 1997, who is now in the Indian Foreign Service. He also highlighted figures like freedom fighter Haipou Jadonang and Naga nuclear scientist Er. Chireuding Zeliang as examples of Zeliangrong excellence.
However, he expressed concern that “despite such accomplishments, the community continues to be categorized as a Backward Tribe.” He suggested that the community consider moving beyond this label, having “demonstrated capabilities equal to any other group within Naga society.”
Kikon concluded by urging the younger generation not to underestimate their potential, saying, “The Zeliangrong people have a proud history of excellence and leadership. Let us continue striving for greater achievements.”