The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) today said that it was opposed to any change in the State reservation policy.
Stating that the Garos reject the premise of the review and modification of the quota policy based on population demographics, the students’ body also said that status quo should be maintained on the policy.
In its suggestions to the expert committee on reservation policy, the GSU said that it is a unanimous decision amongst the Garos to object to any review of the policy.
“We stand committed that the status quo is maintained and the Job Reservation Policy, 1972 is not reviewed or modified,” it added.
“There is a fragile common understanding and peace between the Khasi-Jaintia brothers and the Garos and any attempt of revision of the policy particularly the 40 per cent reservation for the Garos could actually be igniting something culminating in law and order situation as witnessed in the MBOSE issue,” the GSU asserted.
According to the GSU, the demand for review of the reservation policy was being raised not by a deprived community of the State “but a political shenanigan of a political party for political expediency and gains under the willful guise of cry of inequality supposedly faced by its community disregarding Garo people’s deprivation”.
“Therefore, the hue and cry must be taken with a pinch of salt because it is not for the general benefits of the STs in the State but directed for the benefits of some,” it said.
Citing the Census of the Meghalaya State Government Employees as on March 31, 2022, the GSU said, “A casual glance of the report will lay bare the injustice heaped on the community where there are 15,157 backlogs of jobs yet to be rightly accrued by the Garos.”
“The general consensus of the Garo community is that the demand for review of the JRP 1972 is the apparent attempt which can be construed as an effort to garner a much bigger pie for the United Khasi-Jaintia tribe. The Khasi-Jaintia has better access to a larger number of quality educational institutions and economic opportunities. The need for clearing more than 15,000 backlogs of jobs which was the right of the Garos has taken a backseat due to potential ethnic clash and the verbal assurance of the government to correct it,” it added.
