A Forward-Looking Step on Women’s Participation in ULB
Need to approach 33% women’s quota with fresh and progressive mindset: The Naga Rising
The Naga Rising welcomes the resolution adopted on the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) by the consultative meeting held on March 9. It is heartening to note that the august gathering APPROACHED THE ISSUE WITH A FRESH AND PROGRESSIVE MINDSET.
The 33% quota for women in ULB is a provision sanctioned by the Constitution and denying its implementation amounts to a constitutional violation. The issue cannot be resolved with appeasement policy such as having nominated members of women in ULB. Having already adopted the constitutional provision, THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS DUTY-BOUND TO IMPLEMENT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.
The resolution rightly observed the elections to the ULB should be conducted as per the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 that mandates self-governance in urban areas such as cities and towns.
Whereas, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 that mandates local self-governance with similar provisions in rural areas such as villages is not applicable to Nagaland.
Therefore, our traditional village institutions such as our village councils remain unaffected and will continue to serve as the custodians of our customary practices as guaranteed under Art 371(A).
Reason and logic has prevailed on how we apply our customary practices.
The collective wisdom has also avoided an embarrassment by finding a political route to resolve the issue rather than the state government’s deterrence being superseded by the court in securing the implementation of women reservation in ULB.
It would be a shame for the Nagas as a whole if the court were to issue a judicial order to implement the constitutional provision as we pride ourselves of being blessed with an egalitarian social order where gender-based discrimination is alien to the land.
Beyond the legal arguments, today gender equality, gender sensitivity, gender equity, gender neutrality have become globally accepted vocabularies in conversations around political representation, human development discourse, combating climate change.
One of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to achieve gender equality and women empowerment where women’s participation in decision-making is seen as a crucial step towards achieving the goal. Nagaland should be playing a pro-active role in contributing to achieving this global goal.
As the state government implements the constitutional provision in the coming days, The Naga Rising would like to urge the government to avoid viewing the women’s reservation in ULB through the narrow prism of financial resources because the real issue is about ensuring women’s representation and participation in political decision-making.
It is important to keep the focus on HOW BEST TO LEVERAGE WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN ULB AND NOT JUST TO INCREASE THE STATE EXCHEQUER.
Issued by The Naga Rising
March 9, 2022
