A consultative meeting involving five tribal organizations was held on Friday, September 13, at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur to discuss the job reservation policy in Nagaland, particularly concerning the Backward Tribes (BT) quotas.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Angami Public Organisation (APO), Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, and Sumi Hoho. Deliberations lasted for nearly three hours, focusing on issues related to the state's reservation policies. While specific discussions remain confidential, key concerns were reportedly addressed.

Following the meeting, Tesinlo Semy, the committee convenor, confirmed the participation of all five tribal bodies. He stated that the discussions centered around the “reservation issue," particularly the policies affecting backward job reservation in the state. Although the exact outcomes were not revealed, Semy mentioned that the committee is working on drafting a memorandum to be submitted to the government of Nagaland soon. He did not clarify whether the goal is to revamp or review the current policy but assured further information will be shared post-submission.

The reservation policy in Nagaland has been a subject of debate, especially regarding its effects on job opportunities for various tribal communities. The five tribes involved in the meeting are some of the most influential tribal groups in the state.

Nagaland's reservation for Backward Tribes was introduced in 1977 with a 25% quota for non-technical and non-gazetted positions. This applied to seven tribes identified based on economic criteria and limited representation in government departments. As of August 2024, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the current BT reservation stands at 37%, with 25% allocated to seven Eastern Nagaland tribes and 12% to four other Backward Tribes.