Welcoming the move of the state government to hold civic polls with 33% reservation seats for women, the Nagaland Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (NPMCC) has appealed to those organizations who opposed 33% women quota to be more reasonable towards women.
In a press statement, NPMCC president N. Lucy asserted that even the Congress has a long standing policy for women liberation and gender equality.
According to NPMCC, during the course of discussion on the issue, it came across certain elements with an “intention to eliminate women” from participating in the decision making process. NPMCC also dismissed and termed it as baseless on the claimed by various organizations that the implementation of women quota would infringe Art 371 A.
Rather, it explained that with the increase in urban habitats, Nagaland Village Council Act could not govern the multi-religions, customs, culture and traditions, and for this reason the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 was formulated.
Here, NPMCC clarified that constitutional provisions are fundamental principles and not Acts.
Therefore, it argued that the provision of Art.371A in no way prevent or forbid women from rising in civilization.
Instead, the list of provisions under Art.371A authorised NLA to legislate new laws and as such it “nothing prevents the state from making new Acts to govern its people”.
“We must also remember that it was the inherent social practice that customary laws were amended, deleted and added, as is deemed fit and proper with the growth of civilization”, NPMCC said.
In the light of the above, NPMCC said that the resolution and counter resolution by NLA, in respect of 33% women reservation were meaningless when the Municipal and Town Council Act was in force.
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