A signature campaign to drum support from citizens on the need to change the “outdated” state reservation policy saw participation of cross section of people, especially youth at Mawkhar taxi stand in Motphran today.
Barilang Pyngrope, a student of horticulture at Allahabad University, initiated the campaign with the hope that the government amends the reservation policy so as it is equally distributed.
Most of the participants in the campaign termed the 50-year-old policy as “biased.” They felt that there is a need to relook to suit the three main tribes in the State.
Speaking to reporters Pyngrope questioned the educational quota and for whom is it being reserved. “In what way is this policy targeting the population of the state? There are many bureaucrats and legislators who understand this but lack the political will to alter it,” she said.
Stating that MLAs are meant to look at the welfare of the people but only one MLA Adelbert Nongrum is fighting for the cause, she expressed eagerness to meet all the 59 MLAs to discuss the issue.
“We will submit these signatures to the Chief Minister by next week. Changes will not happen overnight but we will wait patiently for this issue to be taken up and addressed,” she added.
Pyngrope’s reservation policy issue had stoked a debate on social media that it would spark communal feelings among the tribes. However, she felt that the existing reservation policy is in itself communal and without a target.
“The existing reservation policy is outdated and needs a total revamp. The education reservation needs to go to the backward, to people from the rural areas and to the poor who cannot afford it. Those deserving do not get the quota while someone who cannot cope with the studies and drop out just wastes the quota that affects the productivity of the entire state,” she said, asking if the reservation to the Garo also goes to the most deserving and the poor with a specific target.
Stating that the quota system which is 40 per cent for the Garo and 40 for Khasi-Jaiñtia has no planning at all, she said when it comes to grade-A jobs, there should be an open reservation of 80 per cent for all the three tribes so that there will be a healthy competition.
“This needs to be revised and there should be a target like cut-off marks, and go to the eligible whether Khasi, Jaiñtia or Garo,” she added.
Currently, the reservation policy in the State stands at 40 per cent for Khasi-Jaiñtia, 40 per cent for Garo, 5 per cent for other tribes and 15 per cent for general category.
Meanwhile, some of the participants cited examples of the three autonomous district councils. “If you say the Khasi-Jaiñtia are the same then why are the district councils divided into the KHADC and JHADC,” a youth B Suting questioned.
