Rajabala MLA Mizanur Rahman Kazi has proposed that Muslims from the plain belt of Garo Hills should get 5 per cent from the general pool in the State reservation policy.
Kazi submitted his suggestion to the expert committee on reservation policy today.
“I have tried to depict the history and to identify the Muslim community as OBC community and to look at their socio-economic status, etc. That is why I suggested a 5 per cent reservation for them,” Kazi said.
“If we go to ancient history, way back in 1600 AD we can see that those plain people were there and history also suggests that they were there during the Mughal era. All these things showed that the Muslims of the plain belt of Garo Hills are not migrants from anywhere but were living there even before Meghalaya was born, before the undivided Assam and before the Mughal era as well,” he added.
On the demand by groups from Khasi-Jaintia Hills for an increase in reservation, Kazi maintained that he was not talking about whatever reservation the Khasi-Jaiñtia people and Garos are enjoying but about the general pool.
According to him, the Muslim community of the plain belt of Garo Hills should be identified as OBC and should be provided with 5 per cent reservation from the general pool without affecting the quota of the Khasis, Jaiñtias, and Garos.
Meanwhile, the South Shillong Advisory Committee (SSAC) headed by BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai today proposed a 30 per cent job reservation for Khasis and Garos, 27 per cent for economically weaker sections (EWS), 6 per cent combined reservation for other schedule tribes, schedule castes and OBCs out of which 3 per cent will be for STs, 3 per cent for SCs and OBCs and the remaining 7 per cent for unreserved (general).
The SSAC presented the suggestions before the expert committee on the State reservation policy today.
It also said that from all the categories, 10 per cent reservation should be for the differently-abled persons and individuals who excel in the field of sports, arts and culture.
Moreover, the All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers and Labourers Union (AJMRWLU) has sought a reservation of 5 per cent for children of daily minimum wage workers in academic and job opportunities in government and private sector.
In its submission to the expert committee on reservation policy, AJMRWLU president Daioowanphi Iakai said that this initiative would provide children of daily minimum wage workers with equitable access to quality education and career advancement opportunities.
