The Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) is backing the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) in their push for a complete overhaul of Nagaland’s existing State Reservation Policy. The Konyak Student Union emphasizes that a new system must be based on population demographics to ensure all disadvantaged sections are truly represented.
In a recent press release, the Konyak Student Union Demands Fairer System highlights that while India’s reservation policies aim to uplift marginalized communities in education and public employment, Nagaland’s implementation over the past 48 years has failed the Konyak tribe. They argue that faulty implementation and unfair quota distribution have kept the Konyak community among Nagaland’s most socio-economically backward.
Despite having a population of over 2.50 lakh (roughly 12% of Nagaland’s tribal demographic), the Konyak Student Union Demands Fairer System points out that the Konyak tribe’s representation in government jobs is “glaringly dismal.” This was also highlighted in a 2019 report by the Department of Economics and Statistics. The union notes that some Konyak villages, entire ranges, and even Assembly Constituencies still lack a single NPSC-recruited Class I gazetted officer. Furthermore, the 2011 census showed Mon district, a Konyak-majority area, with Nagaland’s lowest literacy rate at 56.60%.
The Konyak Student Union believes that this lack of educational opportunities and exclusion from public sector employment has only worsened the socio-economic disparities faced by the Konyak people. They expressed disappointment that repeated appeals to the state government for a policy review have gone unanswered.
Therefore, the Konyak Student Union fully supports the Five Tribes Committee’s proposal for a much-needed change to the Nagaland Reservation Policy.
The concerns raised by the Konyak Students’ Union (KSU), in solidarity with the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), underscore a critical juncture in Nagaland’s journey towards true socio-economic equity. What began as a constitutional safeguard to uplift marginalized communities has, in its decades-long implementation, inadvertently perpetuated the very disparities it was meant to erase for certain groups. The KSU’s compelling data, highlighting the alarmingly low representation of the Konyak tribe in government services and the stark educational backwardness of regions like Mon district, paints a vivid picture of a system that, for all its good intentions, has left a significant portion of Nagaland’s tribal demographic behind.
This isn’t merely a plea for more jobs; it’s a profound call for a re-evaluation of how opportunity is distributed and how collective progress is measured. The argument for a population-based reservation system isn’t about disenfranchising any group, but rather about ensuring that the benefits of reservation are truly proportional and reflect the diverse demographic landscape of the state. Ignoring the glaring disparities in representation, particularly for a community as sizable as the Konyaks, would be to overlook a fundamental flaw in the policy’s design and execution.
As the Konyak Student Union Demand Fairer System to the state government it only amplify the urgency of this matter. It’s a testament to the Konyak community’s enduring patience and their unwavering belief in a fair and just system. Moving forward, the Nagaland State Reservation Policy must undergo a comprehensive, transparent, and empathetic review. This process should not be viewed as a divisive exercise but as an opportunity to strengthen the social fabric of Nagaland by ensuring that no community is left feeling perpetually marginalized. Ultimately, a reservation policy that genuinely reflects demographic realities and effectively uplifts all disadvantaged sections will be a cornerstone of a more inclusive, prosperous, and equitable Nagaland for generations to come.