SHILLONG:
A student of horticulture, Bari Pyngrope on January 27, urged the state to review Meghalaya’s reservation policy in government jobs to ensure equal distribution among the three dominant tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo.
Seeking the support of people from all the communities, including NGOs, Pyngrope will launch a signature campaign on January 29 on the same.
“Through this campaign, I want the government to listen to us and review the reservation policy for the benefit of the three dominant tribes of Meghalaya,” she said.
Stating that her demand is not against any community, the student of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, said that her signature campaign is actually against the government’s delay in reviewing the policy despite the increase in the population of Khasi and Jaintia communities.
Pyngrope said that she is inspired by a similar demand raised by North Shillong legislator Adelbert Nongrum and would approach the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) leader for advice on the next course of action.
According to the existing policy, the Garo community enjoys 40 percent of reservation in government services, followed by the Khasi and Jaintia communities with 20 percent each. The remaining is shared by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes and the general category with five per cent and 15 percent, respectively.
Stressing on the potential of Meghalaya’s youth, Pyngrope said, “Why should candidates suffer? If we change the reservation policy, it will promote healthy competition among the three tribes.”
Admitting that leaders in the past, too, had taken up the issue with previous governments but to no avail, she said, “Nothing positive came out of it because of the lack of political will on the issue. We have had enough for 50 years.” She also stressed that her demand is not aimed at communalising the issue.
“Now, I leave it to the state legislature to take the right decision. I am only concerned with the unequal distribution,” she said.
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