Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha MP, S Supongmeren Jamir, has thrown his political weight behind growing calls for a comprehensive review of the state’s reservation policy, amid rising tribal dissatisfaction over what many now see as an outdated and imbalanced system. His remarks come as tribal tensions simmer over perceived inequities in government job allocations that have gone unchanged since 1977. Jamir, who also heads the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, made his statement during the launch of the ‘Clean & Green Nagaland’ campaign in Kohima on World Environment Day. The campaign is being funded through his MPLADS contributions, but the focus quickly shifted to the contentious reservation issue that has dominated political discourse in recent months.
Referring to the long-standing policy that earmarks 37% of government jobs in non-gazetted and non-technical posts for 11 tribes categorized as backward, Jamir acknowledged growing resentment among unreserved tribes. “The five tribes have pointed out that the reservation policy hasn’t been reviewed in over four decades. It is now a matter of policy, and I trust the state government will take a fair and inclusive approach,” he said. The current system reserves 25% of jobs for seven tribes from eastern Nagaland and another 12% for four other tribes identified as backward. Initially introduced in 1977 with a 10-year mandate, the policy was intended to bridge socio-economic and educational gaps. However, critics argue that the ground realities have evolved significantly since then, and the policy no longer reflects present-day disparities.
In particular, the Ao, Angami, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes—who are not classified as backward—have voiced strong opposition to the existing policy through the Five-Tribe Committee on Review of Reservation Policy. The committee submitted a memorandum to the state government on September 20, 2024, demanding immediate action, followed by a 30-day ultimatum on April 26, 2025, after receiving no response. Tensions came to a head with a peaceful protest rally in Kohima on May 29, where hundreds gathered to press for reforms. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton met with the committee on June 3 and assured the formation of a dedicated commission by June 17 to reassess the reservation framework.
