State Reservation Policy
Shillong, Oct 6:The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has advocated for combined 80% job reservation for Khasi-Jaintia and Garo indigenous communities in Meghalaya to ensure healthy and merit-based competition among the job seekers.
Submitting its suggestions of the party to the Expert Committee on the State Reservation Policy, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said, “(We have stressed the need) to review the reservation policy dated Shillong 12th January 1972 for overall growth in terms of employment taking into account the different categories of the society.”
“The party is of the opinion of combining the 40% + 40% total of 80% for Khasi-Jaintia and Garo so as to bring the healthy competition and efficiency in order of merit among the members of the Scheduled Tribes of the state – the Khasi-Jaintias and Garos, which will also prevent deprivation or discrimination on ethnic identity,” he said.
Pangniang said with reference to the Office Memorandum dated December 18, 1972…subject to reservation of vacancies at the district level post, the party has suggested that 90% preference should be given to local candidates of any particular district of Meghalaya, keeping in mind that recruitment in Khasi, Jaintia Hills district should only meant for these two tribes i.e. the Khasis, Jaintias, whereas recruitments in Garo Hills district should only be meant for the Garos.
He said the party has also suggested the need to do away with the process of carried forward while referring to Para 2 of the Resolution which states that “if there is a deficiency in the number of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes shall be carried forward to the next recruitment year and made good in the recruitment of that year or not more than one year”.
Further, Pangniang said, “Since the inception of the state of Meghalaya, the state reservation policy dated January 12, 1972, percentage has also been implemented for allocation of seats in different field of academics career for the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos without proper section or clause which is not clearly indicated in the reservation policy. Hence, the party feels it is the need of the hour to relook into the matter.”
Meanwhile, the HSPDP has urged the government to ensure review of the state reservation policy do not disturb the peace and tranquillity in the state.
