The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) today said that continued discussion of the roster system and its present turmoil on the matter should not be a political shenanigan to intrude upon the Meghalaya job reservation policy.
In a statement issued today, GSU president Tengsak Gabil Momin said that any intrusion upon the job reservation policy will be taken very seriously by the people of Garo Hills.
“The matter, we believe, as of now is about the implementation of the roster system adopted by the Meghalaya government as per court orders in April 2022. The discussion on the roster system regarding the retrospective and prospective nature of implementation of the roster system is fair to be discussed upon but it must not be an implicated platform to denature the wisdom of the founding fathers of Meghalaya by any attempt to dilute the Meghalaya Reservation Policy, 1972,” Momin said.
Stating that GSU appreciates the implementation of the roster system, Momin said, “It is not only an accepted fact but a gross reality that Garos and other indigenous tribes and peoples of Garo Hills lack the quality education due to lack of quality educational institutions since even the Engineering College and the Medical College is yet to function and remains in limbo in the construction phases as are other model schools and college. This has a profound impact on the ability of the candidates of this region to successfully compete with the other brethrens of the State and hence Meghalaya Reservation Policy, 1972 is a necessity which must be sanguinely preserved for the equal benefits of the educationally disadvantaged communities of the State.”
Momin also lauded the State government for its realisation that Garos and other tribes have indeed been disadvantaged by the recruitment system and welcomed the Meghalaya High Court’s decision that indeed a roster system is necessary to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy, 1972.
“In the year 2007, GSU found out that the discrepancy arising out of the absence of the roster system was found to have more than 500 backlogs on rough calculation now it will be much more. Realistically, the filling up of these backlogs is indeed a gargantuan task but there is justification of the need for roster system as so many of our people have been deprived but must be duly noted that other brethrens of the state must not be deprived of the opportunity as laid down,” Momin said.
The GSU also rejected the idea made by Voice of the People Party (VPP) that the job reservation policy must be based on population demographics.
“Let us be on par in every aspect as brethrens or let us either discuss the possibility of winter capital or separate state if only one of our existing rights to equal sharing of opportunities is hindered. We stand no chance without the job reservation policy for equal representation,” Momin said.
