GNC urges expert panel to recommend status quo be maintained on SRP, 1972

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 15, 2024

The Garo National Council (GNC) has expressed its strong opposition against any move to review the State Reservation Policy based on population.

“(We have) observed that, the Constitution of India asserted the provisions  for reservations for backward classes, SC and ST,  purely based in the line of socially, economically and educationally backwardness not in the line of  population structures and  political boundaries. Therefore reviewing or any form of modification of reservation policy of Meghalaya in the line of population structures and areas covered shall not be admissible,” GNC general secretary Augustine R Marak said in a letter to the Expert Committee on State Reservation Policy.  

“…the Garos community is still lacking behind in all social, economic and educational sectors and will never be able to compete with other two much more advanced Schedule Tribes of Meghalaya namely Khasi and Jaintia Community. Therefore, GNC is totally against the idea of reviewing or any form of modification on Reservation Policy of Meghalaya 1972 and request your Chairmanship to recommend the STATUS QUO be maintained in Meghalaya Reservation Policy 1972 for better interest  of Garo community in particular and Other Tribes of Meghalaya in general,” he said.

He said though, the reservation policy exists in the state with an intent to maintain equality among the indigenous tribes of the state, but due to the better conditions on social, economics and educational sectors, the Khasi Jaintia  community are enjoying the maximum benefits in appointment of posts and services.

“As per the Office Memorandum of Government of Meghalaya way back in 1970s and 1980s,  the District Selection has reserved as 80 percent  for Khasi Jaintia and Garo Category, 5 percent for Other Tribes of Meghalaya and 15percent for General Category. 80 percent for Khasi Jaintia and Garo Category is just a written paper, not in practical way, almost all the posts and services in Khasi -Jaintia Hills are enjoying by Khasi Jaintia community,” Marak said.

“As per the District Selection criteria the aspirant candidates must be the citizens of the concerned  District  for more than ten years and must know the local language. There are over laks of Garo community who are born and brought up in the different parts of Khasi Jaintia Hills and fluently known to local language were never selected in district level recruitment in the Khasi Hills region since the creation of Hill State. So Garo People residing in Khasi Hills region are under social discrimination in terms of posts and services appointment,” he added.