Shillong, Jul 31: The Hajong Students’ Union (HSU) and Hajong Students & Youth Voice (HSYV) – Federation Council have demanded immediate rectification of the online recruitment portal of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary to include a separate and constitutionally accurate “Scheduled Tribe (Hajong)” category.
The organisations, along with the Meghalaya Hajong Welfare Association (MHWA), said the current portal only lists ST (Khasi & Jaintia), ST (Garo) and “Newly recognised tribes of Meghalaya other than Khasi, Jaintia & Garo”, forcing Hajong applicants to select the misleading “newly recognised” option.
HSYV condemned the categorisation, stating that the Hajong community is an indigenous Scheduled Tribe recognised under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 and has enjoyed ST status since Meghalaya was formed in 1972. Describing them as “newly recognised” is “historically inaccurate and constitutionally misleading”, they said.
The groups also cited the State Government’s own recognition of Hajong leaders during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, including Late Deben Hajong, Late Nidhuram Hajong, Late Pohora Diwani Hajong, Late Gajendra Hajong, Late Lal Behari Hajong, Late Rameshwar Hajong, Late Khelaram Barman (Hajong), Late Jogobandu Barman (Hajong) and Late Dhabeol Barman (Hajong), for their role in the Meghalaya Hill State Movement.
The organisations have jointly sought the inclusion of a distinct ST (Hajong) option in all government recruitment portals, removal or correction of the “newly recognised tribes” category as it relates to Hajongs, issuance of an official corrigendum and protection for candidates who applied under the wrong category, and uniform constitutional recognition of the Hajong ST across all government systems and public services.
A copy of the representation has also been forwarded to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, New Delhi, requesting intervention to safeguard the constitutional rights and identity of the community.
The organisations expressed confidence that the State government will take prompt corrective action in the interest of constitutional justice, administrative transparency, and equal treatment of all Scheduled Tribes.
