GHADC member Rinaldo Sangma has suggested the expert committee on State reservation policy to increase the job quota for the Garo community in Meghalaya.
“Increase it from the current 40 per cent to 50 per cent or to a percentile constitutionally permissible and deemed appropriate so as to address historical injustices and ensure equitable representation and opportunities for our Garo people in our State,” the Trinamool Congress MDC said in his suggestion submitted to the expert committee.
According to Sangma, increasing the reservation quota for the Garo community will help in bridging the gaps that exist and uplift the disadvantaged community.
“While it is understood that there has been demands for revising the reservation policy to reflect demographic changes, it is also crucial to recognise that potential modifications to the reservation policy should be approached cautiously to avoid diluting the benefits accrued by the Garo community or any other weaker or backward community for that matter,” he said.
The MDC said that if the need for any revision arises, it must be contemplated based on the criterion of socio-economic backwardness of a community rather than of the populace.
“Most importantly, it is imperative to maintain a balanced approach that respects the rights and aspirations of all communities while upholding principles of justice and equity,” Sangma said.
He cited the Census of Meghalaya State Government Employees 2022 issued by the Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Government of Meghalaya which clearly points that the Khasi and Jaintia community comprises 35,031(61.69 per cent) out of the 56,790 Scheduled Tribe employees in the State government while the Garo employees are only at 19,874 (35 per cent).
He said that it is prima facie evident by this record that Garos have been the deprived lot in matters of employment in the government services.
He also said that the Meghalaya High Court has also acknowledged this deprivation thereby directing the roster system to be implemented in job recruitments.
According to him, the job reservation policy of Meghalaya provisions for 40 per cent each for Khasi, Jaintia and Garos was applied in letter but seldom in spirit as evidently seen in government records.
