Chakhesangs seek fair BT quota

Seeking immediate consideration and proportionate distribution of Backward Tribe (BT) job reservation in the state, a delegation of Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) and the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) including all the Chakhesang legislators and senior citizens Wednesday met the chief minister, Neiphiu Rio at his official residence, Kohima.
CPO, president, Yesonu Veyie and CSU president, Mutsivoyi Kotso in a joint representation reminded the chief minister that the nine backward tribes including Chakhesang, Konyak, Sangtam, Phom, Khiamnungan, Chang, Yimchumger, Zeliang and Pochury were given 33% reservation as per notification No. RCB/5/87 dated 24/03/1994.
This was however reviewed during the cabinet sitting in June 12 and 13, 2008 which divided the BTs into two categories of reservation with class where the six tribes from the four districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng were “abruptly given 25% and the other three excluded tribes namely; Chakhesang, Pochury and Zeliang were left with only 8%”.
Expressing discontentment with this exercise of the government, the delegation pointed out that the reservation system in the state was aimed at helping those tribes which are educationally and economically “very backward” and insignificantly represented in the services of the state so that they too can come at par with the advanced tribes.
The representation further reminded that the existing policy of 33% job reservation for the nine BTs in the state vide Notifications No. APPT-18/6/67 dated 6/7/1973 and No.AR-8/976 (pt-II) dated, Kohima, the 16 Aug. 1979 has been in operation without any major review which otherwise required review at the interval of 10 years.
It asserted that the cut in the reservation system was done without proper investigation by the committee and asked the chief minister “not to rationally review the policy to suit changes with time”.
The delegation urged the government to conduct spot study of all the Naga tribes in order to appreciate the progress and achievements made so far by the competent Commission with certified technical experts.
It also urged the chief minister to peruse the points in the representation and place the Chakhesang people in rightful position.