Nagaland: Five major tribes intensify protest over reservation policy

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Five of Nagaland’s major tribes namely Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi, intensified their protest on Wednesday, demanding a review or scrapping of the state’s longstanding backward tribe (BT) reservation policy.

Dressed in their traditional attires, hundreds of men and women gathered in front of the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima for a sit-in protest, reaffirming their commitment to the cause despite the state government’s appeal to call it off. The protest marks another major step in the movement spearheaded by the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), following a statewide protest rally that was held recently.

The CoRRP convenor, Tesinlo Semy, highlighted that the five tribes had, in September 2024, submitted a memorandum to the state government demanding either a complete scrapping of the 48-year-old policy or the reallocation of the unreserved quota to these tribes. The deadline set in the memorandum was April 2025. When no action followed, widespread protests were launched across districts on 28th May 2025.

“Enough is enough,” he said during the protest. “We waited in good faith, believing the policy would give opportunities to the needy. But over 48 years, many of the so-called backward tribes have advanced significantly. Meanwhile, the so-called advanced tribes continue to be deprived,” he added.

He argued that while the policy was originally meant to uplift socially and economically backward tribes, it has failed to adapt to the evolving realities over nearly five decades. He pointed out that the reservation, intended to be reviewed every ten years, was extended “until further orders” through a government directive in 1989, overriding an earlier 1987 order for periodic review.

He asserted that the current system, which includes an 80% reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs), with further sub-quotas among STs, is divisive and discriminatory. The tribal leader argued that reservation within a Scheduled Tribe category undermines the constitutional principle of equality noting that qualified candidates from the so-called advanced tribes are repeatedly left out, while others accumulate reserved benefits year after year.

Speaking to reporters, GK Zhimomi, Member Secretary of CoRRP, said that while the state government had announced the formation of a commission, it was not the original demand of the five tribes. He stated that their primary demand remained the scrapping of what they view as a flawed policy, or a fair reallocation of the unreserved quota.

Zhimomi also criticised the government for using the upcoming census as an excuse to delay action. He pointed out that the same reason had been cited back in 2022 and questioned whether the tribes were now expected to wait another three years until the 2026–27 census.

He also said that the policy, which has been in place for 48 years, has created inequality by allowing a select group to benefit repeatedly without any review or “creamy layer” exclusion.

He noted that the one-day protest was held as a gesture, but warned that the agitation could become indefinite if the government failed to take concrete action upon the Chief Minister’s return from Japan. Zhimomi said that if there was genuine political will, the government could take a decision immediately.

Zhimomi also said that over the years, seven review committees have been constituted to examine Nagaland’s reservation policy. Among them, the Bano Committee notably concluded that two of the backward tribes no longer met the criteria to be classified as such. Yet, no action was taken. He expressed his apprehension that the proposed commmission on reservation review policy could also meet the same fate.

The leaders warned that if the government fails to respond to their demands, the tribes will further intensify protest till their demands are met.

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