The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) today demanded that the state government formally institutionalise education quotes for Meghalaya tribals.
At a press conference here today, HITO said that it submitted a representation in this regard to the Commissioner and Secretary of the Personnel and AR (B) Department and threatened to move court if its demand is not met by January.
The state’s job reservation policy was enacted in 1972 and it has been modified over the years, most recently in 2017. It provides for 40 per cent reservation for Khasi-Jaiñtias, 40 per cent for Garos and 5 per cent for other Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
In 1973, public undertakings and government-aided institutions were told to provide reservations on the same lines as the state government but there has never been a formal resolution or order or office memorandum issued by the government to extend the job reservation policy to higher education, which, the pressure group said, has cost tribal students over the years.
