India, Oct. 6 -- Nagaland's 1977 reservation policy for Backward Tribes (BT) has recently come under criticism from the tribes that do not fall under this category. Five tribes - Ao, Sumi, Angami, Lotha and Rengma - have demanded that the state government review and reform its reservation policy.

The reservation policy for the backward tribes was notified on January 11, 1977 when Nagaland was under President's Rule. It was implemented by then Governor of Nagaland Lallan Prasad Singh, reserving 25% of the total vacancies of non-technical and non-gazetted posts under the state government for seven tribes.

These tribes- Konyak, Sangtam, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger, Phom, Chang and Chakhesang- were considered BTs as they were "educationally an...