The new office memorandum on how to implement the roster system has not impressed the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).
Studying the new OM in relation to the one issued in May 2022, KHNAM leader Thomas Passah finds little difference between the two.
“It is obvious that the new OM does not specify a cut-off date and it does not state that the roster system will take effect from May 10, 2022 as promised to all political parties in meetings held on two occasions,” he told Highland Post.
Stating that it seems that the state government is hiding the facts on the retrospective nature of the roster system, Passah said, “The apparent difference between the two OMs is that the words ‘and details of backlog reserved …..cycle’ mentioned in para B-6 of the old OM have been deleted.
However, the cause of the backlog, which was in OM 2022 “an account shall be noted in the reservation roster indicating representation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo,” does still exist in the present OM at para B-6.” There is also the wholesale deletion of paragraph three and cuts to paragraph two.
Nowhere in the new OM is there any mention about the prospective implementation of the roster system, as agreed upon during the all-party meeting, he opined. “As long as the government is taking into account the data from 1972 onwards while maintaining that the roster register, the roster system cannot be prospective,” Passah added. “The new OM is a retrospective roster system presented in a complicated manner to confuse the general public.”
The stand of KHNAM is that the data from 1972 up to 2022 is incomplete because the government departments do not show the category-wise break-up of the recommended or appointed candidates.
“We will not rest to fight against the illegal/illogical retrospective rosters. It is also to be pointed out that even the present new OM does not cater to employment made under Para 2 and 3 of the SRP (State Reservation Policy) 1972 which talks about lapses of quota,” he said.
KHNAM, which has no representative in the legislative assembly, further questioned why other political parties, like the opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress and regional parties like the HSPDP and United Democratic Party have expressed satisfaction over the roster presentation given by the government.
“We would like to know if these political parties will take responsibility for the retrospective roster being implemented by the NPP-led government? These political parties have to prove whether they are just partners in the NPP government or slaves?” he said.
Although KHNAM has seen eye-to-eye with the Voice of the People Party (VPP) for a review of the reservation policy, Passah said that the VPP has been silent on the roster. “We hope that the VPP also looks into the impact of the illogical roster and its negative impact.”
