33% quota for women in Naga civic polls

In its first cabinet meet, Neiphiu Rio govt decides to hold elections after nearly two decades

AFTER nearly two decades, Nagaland will hold civic bodies elections and with 33 per cent reservation of seats for women.

The Neiphiu Rio government made the decision in its first meeting on Thursday in deference to an order of the Supreme Court. It issued a direction last year to hold the elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by May this year.

Nagaland, whose cultural, traditional and religious practices, land and its resources are safeguarded under Article 371A, was exempted from the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution for the setting up of municipalities. But the 74th Amendment did not give that exemption on the grounds that the state’s town administrations were not part of the customary practices.