Nagaland govt to examine women reservation issue, hold discussions with Tribal Hohos

June 6, 2018 189 Views No Comment

Rio cabinet rolls back renaming of IG stadium

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Naga Republic News

In a significant development, the Nagaland government has decided to re-open the highly contentious women reservation issue reportedly after the State’s law officer apprised the Cabinet on the matter. It may be mentioned that former Chief Minister TR Zeliang was forced to step down in the wake of fierce opposition to 33% women reservation in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

According to an official news bulletin, the Advocate General, Nagaland who is the law officer advising the government had apprised the Cabinet on various matters of importance pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court.

The State Cabinet in its meeting held on June 05th, 2018 took the following decisions:

It was decided to constitute a Ministerial Committee to examine the Women Reservation issue and hold discussions with the Tribal Hohos and all other stakeholders. The six members Committee will be headed by JD (U) representative in the Rio government, senior Minister G. Kaito Aye.

The other members are CM Chang, Minister (NDPP), Neiba Kronu, Minister (NDPP), P. Paiwang Konyak, Minister (BJP), Jacob Zhimomi, Minister (BJP) and Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor (BJP). Interestingly the other PDA Alliance partner the NPP has not been included in the committee.

It was also informed that the Cabinet discussed about the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill of the Government of India. The Cabinet was of the view that Nagaland is protected under Article 371(A) of the Constitution and the ILP Regulations.

However, if the proposed amendment goes against the interests of the Nagas, the Government of Nagaland will go against such amendments and take up any such issues with the Government of India, it was informed.

Further on the Naga political issue, as a follow up to the meeting of the Political Affairs Committee meeting with Tribal Hohos dated 11th May, 2018 at Kohima, the Cabinet Secretary has been directed to write to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for revival/reconstitution of the Joint Legislators’ Forum in order to strengthen the efforts being made towards the peace process.

The Cabinet also discussed its 16th April, 2018 decision on the constitution of Nagaland Investment and Development Authority (NIDA) and approved the change in nomenclature to Investment and Development Authority Nagaland (IDAN) to avoid confusion with similar sounding acronym.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has decided to constitute a Committee to study the issues relating to royalty collection on minor minerals between the Forest Department and Geology and Mining Department and amendment thereof.

The Committee will be headed by Sentiyanger Imchen IAS, Principal Secretary, Municipal Affairs & Development Commissioner as Chairman. Other members are Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Commissioner & Secretary, Geology & Mining; PCCF, Nagaland; Director, Geology & Mining, Nagaland and Secretary, Law & Justice Department.

The Cabinet further decided that while Statehood Day will be celebrated on December 1st at the Secretariat Plaza, the inauguration of the Hornbill Festival will be held in the afternoon of December 1st.

Garo, Kachari and Kuki Communities will also be included for the Mini Hornbill and for Dimapur District, Naga Council Dimapur can organize a common function of all tribes in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner and Tribal Bodies. Further, Mini Hornbill festivals will be held in the Districts as decided by the Cabinet in its earlier meeting dated 16th April, 2018.