The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government today notified the constitution of an Expert Committee to review the State’s job reservation policy.
The decision came a day after the recommendation of the reconstituted committee of all political parties on roster and job reservation policy chaired by Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The formation of the Expert Committee also followed the demand of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) whose president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit staged an indefinite hunger strike from May 23 to press for review of the reservation policy.
As per the notification issued by Chief Secretary Donald P. Wahlang today, the Expert Committee will review the State Reservation Policy which was notified in resolution dated the 12th January 1972.
“The Expert Committee shall undertake a review of the State reservation policy by obtaining views from all stakeholders and by conducting field visits to all parts of the State,” the notification said.
Further, the notification said that the Chairperson and members of the Expert Committee shall consist of experts in Constitutional Law, Economics, Sociology, Demographic Studies and related fields which shall be notified by the Government of Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons today, chairperson of the committee of all political parties Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the government will constitute a search committee for the appointment of the chairperson and members of the Expert Committee.
“We are now willing as a government to listen to the voice of the public at large. You have to listen to what citizens are telling you so we have said that we are going to do it,” Lyngdoh said.
“This committee will have sittings with all stakeholders, so we have to ensure that citizens across the State shall be allowed to present their point of views, their observations, which are back with substantial reasoning and justification. We hope that we will be able to complete this exercise as soon as possible,” she added.
