The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) is unhappy with review of the State Reservation Policy but wants it amended.
“Right from the beginning we have made our stand very strong and firm and that is to amend the State Reservation Policy. We have stressed on using the correct nomenclature that is to amend and not just review,” party leader, Thomas Passah said.
He said that the government has constituted the expert committee “to study the reservation policy”, which according to the party, the nomenclature used was to divert from the demand to amend the outdated reservation policy. “We are not happy with such attempts,” he added.
Passah said that the party is shocked that no indigenous tribes from both the communities were selected as members of the committee.
It may be mentioned that Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh had yesterday clarified that the absence of indigenous persons from the State in the committee was made to avoid bias, as the subject matter directly pertains to the Khasi-Jaiñtia and Garo communities.
The expert committee led by former judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Mool Chand Garg as the chairman has been asked to complete its work and submit its report to the State government within 12 months.
As per the terms of reference, the committee will examine the existing reservation policy and make proposals for any necessary modifications. The committee will undertake comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders and conduct visits to various locations across the State to gather inputs from stakeholders.
