Kohima, September 25: The 5-Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), representing five major Naga tribes has “partially welcomed” the Nagaland government’s decision to constitute a commission to review the state’s job reservation policy, but insisted that the administration has deviated from the agreed framework.

The Nagaland government has appointed retired bureaucrat R. Ramakrishnan to head the commission, tasked with reviewing the job reservation policy in the government sector and recommending a framework for equitable tribal representation, according to a notification issued on Monday.

The 5-Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) said the notification partially fulfills the Cabinet’s earlier commitment but diverges from the June 3 meeting agreement and the August 6 Cabinet announcement, which outlined the creation of a Reservation Review Commission. The Committee urged the government to rename the body “Reservation Review Commission” and align its Terms of Reference with the June 3 agreement, which called for a linked review of job reservations and quotas in technical and professional courses based on tribal representation.

The CoRRP also highlighted that the current reservation policy, in place since 1977, no longer reflects the socio-economic and educational realities of various communities in Nagaland. Originally, 25% reservation was allocated for seven backward tribes in non-technical and non-gazetted posts for a decade; this has since increased to 37%, including 25% for seven Eastern Nagaland Backward Tribes and 12% for four other backward tribes.

CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy and member secretary G. K. Zhimomi stated that their September 20 resolution to implement a total shutdown in eight districts inhabited by the five tribes after September 30 remains in force pending government action. The Committee has also been protesting since May, declared non-cooperation with the government, and abstained from Independence Day celebrations.

The Committee, representing the Ao, Angami, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes, had set a 10-day ultimatum for the government on September 20 to address their grievances. The commission was constituted two days after the deadline, but CoRRP insists the government must adhere strictly to the agreed points to avoid further agitation.