Naga women hold state-wide protest rallies; submit memo to Governor

State-wide protest rallies billed as ‘Black Day’ by the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation(JACWR) was held  in all districts and sub-divisions, barring Mokokchung, Longleng, Kiphire and Tuensang districts to condemn the rejection of 33% women reservation, by the state assembly on September 22.

Kohima: In the state capital, several hundred women attended the rally held at the local ground where  chairperson of Nagaland State Women Commission (NSWC) Sano Vamuzo delivered words of encouragement.

She maintained that women were not for division of society but that they were only striving for a brighter future and brighter generation.

She urged the women folks not to be discouraged by the rejection of the 33% quota as it was a common struggle of women all over the world.

Reflecting on the opposition to women reservation, Vamuzo said issue reflected the internal struggle within society. She also noted that the lack of participation of women folks signified ignorance within society.

Mazie Nakhro, Consultant, Mission Facilitators, who currently works in the USA, in his brief address expressed total solidarity with the women by saying that he represented his wife and daughter and late mother in the rally.

He said had his mother been alive, she would surely have been there even if she was illiterate but had PhD in common sense, wisdom and courage.  He urged the participants not to be disheartened and not to give up the fight for truth as women were on the winning side.

Carrying banners and placards, some which read: “Women empowerment not through words but deeds”; “We demand constitutional rights for women” ; “Women constitute half the population” and “Treat women as equal citizens”, the women marched to the Raj Bhavan after the rally and submitted a memorandum.

Fifteen women leaders from different tribes accompanied the Joint Action Committee to submit the Memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland through the Special Secretary.

The memorandum was jointly signed by NMA president and JACWR member Abei-ü Meru, NMA president and member JAWCR; Lochumbeni Humtsoe general secretary NMA, member JAWCR; Rosemary Dzuvichu convenor JACWR and advisor NMA; Menlei Konyak, president Eastern Naga Women Organisation and member JACWR; Hokheli president Naga Women Hoho Dimapur and member JACWR; Lily Tep, executive member NWHD and member JACWR; Vilanuo Angela Yhome secretary Tenyimi Women Organisation and member JAWCR and Temsola convenor Watsü Mungdang and member JAWCR.   

The memorandum urged upon the Governor as the constitutional head of the state, to condemn the rejection of women reservation by the state assembly.

The JAWCR also urged upon the Governor to convene a special extraordinary session of the assembly for withdrawing the resolution passed in the monsoon session on September 22. They said the assembly resolution was a serious violation of the constitutional rights of Naga women.

Copies of the memorandum were also addressed to the chief minister, NLA speaker, chairperson National Commission for Women and chairperson Nagaland SWC. 
      
JAWCR in a statement also expressed gratitude to all the tribal women organizations that successfully organized the protest rallies; Angami students union for allowing them to use Kohima local ground in the midst of the preparations for football tournament; Dr. Mazie Nakhro for supporting them; DC, Kohima, SP, Kohima, police and district administration who helped them undertake the rally smoothly; media from the state and national press; State Women Commission for their presence and encouragement and all the women who came forward to participate in the rally.

Chairman Select Committee adds: Parliamentary Secretary Chairman Select Committee to scrutinize parliamentary laws, Yitachu said Part IX of the Indian constitution and Article 243 (D) that provided 33 % reservation, dealt with the same person.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Yitachu said people of Nagaland felt there should not be two sets of rules applied to the same person.

Yitachu said menfolk were not against reservation and empowerment of women but such matters should be taken up as per Naga customary practices.

He pointed that Part IX (A) of the Indian Constitution and Article 243 (D) violates Article 371 (A) as it impinges upon the very basic principles of Article 371 (A).

He said the assembly therefore, felt it should come up with another act,   keeping in mind, the interest of the women and every section of the people. 

NWHD observes ‘black day’: Thin attendance marked the rally in Dimapur organized by the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) at Clock Tower Junction Dimapur.

In her keynote address, president NWHD Hukheli T. Wotsa, asserted that 70 % of the men folk were behind   and asked the women not to be disheartened.

The programme started with an invocation prayer by Meripeni Prem, women leader, Lotha Baptist Church and was chaired by Mmhalo Ngullie, vice-president, NWHD. The vote of thanks was proposed by Jesenle Kez, finance secretary, NWHD.

NWHD in a statement conveyed gratitude to the authorities including DC Dimapur and the police in granting permission and overseeing the conduct of the protest rally. NWHD further expressed gratitude to the different women tribal leaders, church women leaders, women participants for their co-operation and participation in the rally.

NWHD also handed over a memorandum after the rally, to DC Dimapur Hushili Sema, which was addressed to the Governor of Nagaland.

Signatories of the memorandum, Hukheli T. Wotsa, president, NHWD, and Wungthingla Vashum, joint secretary NWHD. 

Zunheboto: Sumi Totimi Hoho (STH) staged a protest rally in Zunheboto town before submitting a memorandum addressed to the Governor of Nagaland through DC Zunheboto. The women were seen wearing ‘black shawls’ as mark of protest.

In a statement Faustina Arkha STH press secretary said that the protest rally was observed in all the sub-divisions under Zunheboto district under the aegis of respective units of the STH.

Thousands who participated in the rally apart from women folks include— school/college students, young and old and also a few men folks, to show solidarity by attending the rally thereby boosting the morale of
STH president Kitoli Naje read out the memorandum to be submitted to the Governor while Nisheli Arkha Kiho spoke on the women’s perspective questioning the “double standard nature of Naga men”. Aronto sharing his solidarity opined that “rather than 33%, Naga women deserve even 50%.”

The program was chaired by Khetoni Chophy, invocation prayer was offered by Kahoni women pastor SBCZ while Tovi presented a special song, Tohoni Kiba gave the vote of thanks and the program concluded with Tovini Women Pastor SBAZ pronouncing the benediction.

Peren: Zeliangrong Mipui (Women) Organization (ZMO) Peren also observed ‘black day’ at P.T.W.W Hall, Peren expressing grievances against the NLA resolution.

ZMO also asked the governor to convene a special extra ordinary session of the state assembly to withdraw the resolution passed against 33% reservation of women.