The state’s reservation policy, which applies a quota for government jobs among Meghalaya’s tribal population, should have been revisited every 10 years, United Democratic Party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh told Highland Post today.
“What is happening now is that there is a lot of resentment, especially among the youth population, the job seekers and those who want to study outside from the government quota. Now some feel discriminated against, deprived and a competent person feels that he could lose an opportunity just because of the reservation,” he said, adding that what is needed is a rational, not emotional, approach to tackle the issue.
“We are fortunate to have the reservation policy. We need to adopt a rational approach without creating a fuss or friction between the communities because we are one state. We have no right to hurt the sentiments of any community. The political will of the government has to be on this issue and to look at it rationally,” Mawthoh said.
Stating that there are many from the state who also compete in the open category, he said that the government has to think about those who are average or below average.
“The youth have the right and are also right in so many ways to raise this issue because the lapse was that it should have been reviewed every 10 years. Now that the problems have compounded and the youth’s emotions are running high and the population has increased, we have to solve this through the right approach. We need to put our heads together and reexamine this issue rationally,” the party leader said, adding that public debate is welcome but must take place without hurting any community’s sentiments.
