Dimapur, February 7 (MExN): The Governor of Nagaland is told that Nagaland government’s failure to implement the Nagaland Municipal Act 2006 (Amendment) and equally side-step the Women Reservation Bill is a direct violation of the Constitutional rights of women. The expert member of National Commission for Women, Rosemary Dzüvichü today wrote to the Governor of Nagaland, highlighting the various constitutional violations found stark in the state government’s failure to implement the women-empowerment statutes.
The Expert Member on Empowerment of North East Women, NCW, has expressed deep concern at the feeble policy-implementation will of the state government as witnessed in its side-stepping major constitutional policies. The representation to the governor termed as highly questionable the state government’s failure till date to implement the Amendment of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2006. This has been in spite of continuing widespread representations and aspiration by women civil society and women commissions, the NCW member stated. “This is in serious violation of the constitutional right of women in Nagaland, and the question of ‘reviewing’ such a historic amendment, would be in direct violation of our legitimate rights under the constitution” stated the expert member.
The representation has demanded that the state government be held responsible and accountable for the failure to implement the municipal Act amendment and hold the municipal elections in Mokokchung last year. The government’s failure has allowed the future of Naga women in urban decision-making to be held at ransom, it stated.
The state government must be held responsible and accountable for its failure to implement the said amendment also in all the towns, including capital Kohima, where wards have already been identified as reserved for women, as per the state government’s own notification, it added.
Further, the NCW member stated, 108 Amendment Act 2008 (Women Reservation) is of utmost importance to the future of women in Nagaland in the highest levels of decision-making, namely the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha. “It is also the fundamental right of Naga women to decide on this policy, which largely affects their future course of empowerment” the governor was reminded.
“…in the context of Nagaland, if the Bill is passed, Naga women will be able to fill one third of the total number of seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. These seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of the state in such manner as Parliament may by law determine. Furthermore, in the context of the Lok Sabha, the Bill envisages that one third of the seats shall be reserved for women” Dzüvichü stated. For this reason, the commission’s member stated, it is questionable on the part of the state government and leaders of different political parties, that major women organizations were not even invited to the January 29 meeting.
In the light of these willful anomalies, the members demanded, the resolution “against” women reservation on the 29th must be kept in abeyance. The state government must wait for consensus which will be given by the Naga women. “A larger debate must be allowed within the women of Nagaland themselves, represented by all women organizations, including the Nagaland State Commission for Women ,which has been empowered by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, through the Nagaland Women Commission Act, to be consulted for any policy decisions affecting women in the state” it stated.
The member said the very exclusion of women in village decision-making bodies like village councils and the “village judiciary” in Nagaland raises serious questions of gender discrimination. This point to the urgent need to amend the village and area council Act while stricter monitoring is necessary for proper implementation of the reservation of seats for women in accordance with the Village Development Board Model Rules, she reminded.
Further, Dzüvichü said, the state government has failed to appoint women DBs or GBs till date, as they are appointed by the state government or receive approval of appointment from the state government, along with the official issuing of the “red blanket”. The women commission member reminded: It has become imperative for Naga women to be a part of the traditional village judiciary and customary law court, taking into consideration, the alarming rise in all forms of violence and crimes against women and children in the state over the years.
The expert member has sought a proactive role from the governor ‘in charting the destiny of Naga women to move forward, in partnership with men, by ensuring the Amendment of the Municipal Act 2006 is strictly implemented at the earliest and the voices of women on the Women Reservation Bill is taken into account, for submission to the standing committee on the said Bill’.
Source: MORUNG EXPRESS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
The Expert Member on Empowerment of North East Women, NCW, has expressed deep concern at the feeble policy-implementation will of the state government as witnessed in its side-stepping major constitutional policies. The representation to the governor termed as highly questionable the state government’s failure till date to implement the Amendment of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2006. This has been in spite of continuing widespread representations and aspiration by women civil society and women commissions, the NCW member stated. “This is in serious violation of the constitutional right of women in Nagaland, and the question of ‘reviewing’ such a historic amendment, would be in direct violation of our legitimate rights under the constitution” stated the expert member.
The representation has demanded that the state government be held responsible and accountable for the failure to implement the municipal Act amendment and hold the municipal elections in Mokokchung last year. The government’s failure has allowed the future of Naga women in urban decision-making to be held at ransom, it stated.
The state government must be held responsible and accountable for its failure to implement the said amendment also in all the towns, including capital Kohima, where wards have already been identified as reserved for women, as per the state government’s own notification, it added.
Further, the NCW member stated, 108 Amendment Act 2008 (Women Reservation) is of utmost importance to the future of women in Nagaland in the highest levels of decision-making, namely the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha. “It is also the fundamental right of Naga women to decide on this policy, which largely affects their future course of empowerment” the governor was reminded.
“…in the context of Nagaland, if the Bill is passed, Naga women will be able to fill one third of the total number of seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. These seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of the state in such manner as Parliament may by law determine. Furthermore, in the context of the Lok Sabha, the Bill envisages that one third of the seats shall be reserved for women” Dzüvichü stated. For this reason, the commission’s member stated, it is questionable on the part of the state government and leaders of different political parties, that major women organizations were not even invited to the January 29 meeting.
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In the light of these willful anomalies, the members demanded, the resolution “against” women reservation on the 29th must be kept in abeyance. The state government must wait for consensus which will be given by the Naga women. “A larger debate must be allowed within the women of Nagaland themselves, represented by all women organizations, including the Nagaland State Commission for Women ,which has been empowered by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, through the Nagaland Women Commission Act, to be consulted for any policy decisions affecting women in the state” it stated.
The member said the very exclusion of women in village decision-making bodies like village councils and the “village judiciary” in Nagaland raises serious questions of gender discrimination. This point to the urgent need to amend the village and area council Act while stricter monitoring is necessary for proper implementation of the reservation of seats for women in accordance with the Village Development Board Model Rules, she reminded.
Further, Dzüvichü said, the state government has failed to appoint women DBs or GBs till date, as they are appointed by the state government or receive approval of appointment from the state government, along with the official issuing of the “red blanket”. The women commission member reminded: It has become imperative for Naga women to be a part of the traditional village judiciary and customary law court, taking into consideration, the alarming rise in all forms of violence and crimes against women and children in the state over the years.
The expert member has sought a proactive role from the governor ‘in charting the destiny of Naga women to move forward, in partnership with men, by ensuring the Amendment of the Municipal Act 2006 is strictly implemented at the earliest and the voices of women on the Women Reservation Bill is taken into account, for submission to the standing committee on the said Bill’.
Source: MORUNG EXPRESS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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