Jaintia NGOs wants 80% open reservation for all three communities

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 7, 2024

The Jaiñtia Coordination Committee for Reservation Policy (JCCRP) has demanded an open competition for 80% reservation pool among the three tribes of Meghalaya as it would ensure merit-based selection within the indigenous communities if equal representation of 30 percent each for the three communities is denied.

The JCCRP made the demand in a representation submitted to the Expert Committee on Reservation Policy.

The representation said there has been chronic economic and educational backwardness which are one of the main reasons for the bifurcation of the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills District Council also resulting in the creation of the Jaiñtia Hills tribal areas under Para 20 of the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution of India.

They also said the situation relating to the economy especially where employment is concerned as well as the wealth generation of the Jaiñtia society as a whole has suffered severely after 2014 when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a continuing ban on coal mining in the Jaiñtia Hills District as a whole. Therefore, government generated employment is the first point of livelihood support in the composite Jaiñtia Hills District, they added.

The JCCRP said that the present allocation of 40% reservation for Khasi and Jaintia tribes collectively creates ambiguity and potential inequality in employment opportunities.

They said that the Government revise the reservation policy to allocate equal shares of 30% reservation each for Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes. This ensures that each major indigenous tribe has equitable access to opportunities.

The ambiguous reservation percentage does not reflect the economic realities such as per capita income and GDP of Jaintia Hills.

They also suggested adjusting the reservation quotas to consider economic indicators, ensuring that regions with lower economic performance receive adequate support.

The JCCRP demanded that the Reservation Policy should be made into a Statute where employment as well as education opportunities should be clearly defined.