Tura, April 11: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has cautioned that any intrusion upon the Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy, 1972 will be taken ‘very seriously’ by the people of Garo Hills.
“The continued discussion of the roster system and its present turmoil on the matter should not be a politics of shenanigan to intrude upon the Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy, 1972. The GSU wishes to express that any intrusion upon the JRP will be taken very seriously by the people of Garo Hills,” president of Garo Students’ Union (GSU) – CEC, Tengsak Gabil Momin said in a press statement on Tuesday.
He said the matter is about the implementation of the roster system adopted by the Meghalaya Govt. 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. GSU appreciates the implementation of the Roster System,” he said.
He also stated that 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 colleges. “This has a profound impact on the ability of the candidates of this region to successfully compete with the other brethren 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,” he stressed.
Lauding the Meghalaya government for its realization that Garos and other tribes have indeed been disadvantaged by the recruitment system and welcoming the Meghalaya HC’s decision on roster system, he however, pointed out the clause No. 1.2 of the reservation policy, 1972 that states: “the deficiency will be carried forward to the next recruitment year and made good in the recruitment of that year provided that the reservation on account of the deficiency shall not be carried forward for more than one year. After the expiry of the second year, these reservations shall be treated as lapsed…”. The GSU Chief said it is because of the absence of the roster system that these clauses have been trampled upon year after year.
He further said in the year 2007, GSU had found out that that the discrepancy arising out of the absence of the roster system had resulted in more than 500 backlogs on rough calculation, and by now this number would be much higher.
At the same time, Momin said GSU does not condone the idea made by VPP that the Job Reservation Policy (JRP) must be based on population demographics and must be the basis for sharing of the recruitment opportunity.
He said the GSU vehemently opposes this perceived notion as other factors like lack of education quality, quality educational institutions etc is ubiquitous enough to be understood by all as disadvantages for the people of Garo Hills. “Let us be on par in every aspect as brethrens or let us either discuss on the possibility of Winter Capital or Separate state if only one of our existing right to equal sharing of opportunities is hindered. We stand no chance without the JRP for equal representation,” he added.
