A committee formed by the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has recommended that the status quo be maintained in the Meghalaya Reservation Policy.
Currently, the reservation policy keeps aside the majority of government jobs and education slots based solely on ethnicity, with 40 percent alone for Garos and another 40 percent for Khasi-Jaintias. Some political parties and organisations want the latter raised and the former decreased to better reflect the populations of the two communities. A further 5 percent is for other Scheduled Tribes and the remaining 15 percent is a general category.
For a political party chasing votes in both Garo Hills and Khasi-Jaintia Hills, the debate around the reservation policy could prove to be a minefield as there is bound to be a group of people upset by whatever stand the party takes.
The BJP has thus tried to go about it thoroughly, with the state president appointing five state executives as members of its consultative committee on the reservation policy. The committee invited all party workers to submit suggestions and recommendations and, after comprehensive discussions and consultations with various stakeholders, including party workers, the committee presented its official recommendation regarding the policy to the president, Rikman Momin.
The committee said that the reservation policy “has been instrumental in ensuring equitable opportunities for various sections of society”,adding that it has played a crucial role in promoting social justice and inclusion.
After “careful consideration”, the BJP Meghalaya “strongly recommends” maintaining the status quo, listing four reasons.
These are that the current policy “ensures that marginalised and underrepresented communities continue to receive the support and opportunities necessary for their advancement. Maintaining the status quo will uphold the principles of equity and inclusivity.”
The existing policy also provides a stable framework, the party said, that has been effective in addressing historical injustices and imbalances. “Any changes to this policy could potentially disrupt the progress made so far and create uncertainties.”
The third reason was that the party feels that the reservation policy has also been a critical tool in promoting social harmony and cohesion within the state. Maintaining the status quo will prevent potential social tensions and conflicts that could arise from altering the policy, it added.
Any changes should only be made after a thorough and comprehensive review, including “extensive consultations with all stakeholders,” the BJP said. “Until such a review is conducted, maintaining the current policy is the prudent course of action.”
