Former South Tura MLA, John Leslee K. Sangma has accused the State government of succumbing to the pressure of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) by setting up the expert committee to review the job reservation policy.
“It is painful for us as Garos to see and learn about the formation of the Expert Committee on the Reservation Policy, which is published in the media as constituted to review the Reservation Policy of 1972 in line with the demands made by the opposition VPP whose leader was on indefinite hunger strike. The press release which was made by Chief Secretary D P Wahlang on behalf of the Government of Meghalaya stated that the Expert Committee is ‘mandated’ to review the Job Reservation Policy. The press statement gives an indication that the committee was formed to review the job reservation policy not because the government or the people of Meghalaya has a desire to review the 52 years old policy but was formed because of political pressure only,” Sangma claimed while submitting his views to the expert committee.
Sangma also objected to the demand for a review of the reservation policy based on the population census. He also maintained that quota policy must be left untouched alone and status quo must be maintained.
According to him, instead of touching the contentious issue of job reservation, the expert committee should lay greater emphasis on the roster system by making it more transparent for the benefit of all communities of the State.
Sangma also said that the Garos, who have not been able to come up at par with the Khasis and the Jaintias, need the protection of the reservation of opportunities in government service, more than ever.
“It will be justified and fair to enhance the 40 per cent reserved for the Garos to not less than 50 per cent,” he suggested.
“The employment data shows that the Khasi and Jaintia community presently holds 66.5 per cent employment in government services against the Garos who are just at 33.5 per cent even though both communities were given 40 per cent reservation,” Sangma added.
