SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has asked the committee of all political parties constituted to review the state reservation policy to examine the demand made by the indigenous minority tribes for 15 per cent job reservation.
Informing this here on June 26, Sangma said that the different indigenous minority tribes have submitted a memorandum to him.
“Accordingly, I have told them that the memorandum will be given to the committee of all political parties and further also to the expert committee. Let these committees examine (the demand) and come back to us,” he added.
On June 22, the Meghalaya Indigenous Minority Tribes’ Forum (MIMTF) demanded 15 per cent job reservation for the Rabha, Boro, Hajong, Koch and Mann tribes in the Garo Hills region of the state.
In a memorandum, the forum said, “We would earnestly request you to kindly consider and give 15% quota, as and when the existing Reservation Policy is reviewed, to the Indigenous Minority Tribes of Meghalaya specifically for- Hajongs, Koches, Rabhas, Boro-Kacharies and Manns and give them a scope to grow and come at par with the Khasis, Garos and Jaintias.”
“If considered, we feel, this will compensate for the loss that they have suffered during the last 51 years in respect of service (Government Jobs) in particular and in other aspects like-education, economy etc,” it said.
Stating that they are the “bonafide citizens” of Meghalaya, the forum said like the Khasis, Garos and Jaintias they are also “indigenous tribes” adding that Karbis’/’Marngars’ (Dimasa) living in Ri-Bhoi district are also the indigenous Tribes of the state.
“In the existing Government Job Reservation Policy, which is -40% for Khasis and Jaintias, 40% for Garos, 15% for General and 5% for O.T. (Minority Tribe) and Scheduled Caste, although literally our quota is 5% but practically it is only 2% if not less for, we have to share it with the Scheduled Caste and even with other Tribes outside the state like Naga, Mizo etc,” it said.
The memorandum was signed by the Meghalaya Hajong Welfare Association, Meghalaya Rabha Jatio Sewa Sangha (MRJSS), Meghalaya Koch Association, Meghalaya Boro Sahitya Sabha and All Mann Tai Speaking Welfare Association.