Shillong,June 14: The All India Garo Union (AIGU) foresees a riot if there is any change in the state reservation policy.
In the memorandum submitted to the committee on Reservation Policy on Friday, the AIGU president, Elbarth Marak said, “The socio-economic circumstances of the Garo community are still far backward compared to the Khasi -Jaintia community Therefore, we urge that the agreed reservation quota created on 12th January 1972 should be continued as usual and any kind of modification should be avoided. That in case there is modification in the existing policy then it will hurt the feelings of Garo people and their sentiments will be badly hurt which will not be in the interest of entire Meghalaya, and there will be chance of riots. So, the status quo should be maintained”.
According to AIGU, ‘the cry for review of the state policy is being raised not by a deprived community of the state but shenanigans of a political party for political expediency and gains under the wilful guise of cry of inequality supposedly faced by its community disregarding Garo people. Therefore the hue and cry must be taken with a pinch of salt by its community disregarding Garo people’s deprivation because it is not for the general benefits of the STs in the state but directed for the benefits of some.
The AIGU said a casual glance of the report will lay bare the injustice heaped on the community where there are 15157 backlogs of jobs yet to be rightly accrued by the Garos.
Full statement of AIGU
To,
The Secretary, Expert Committee on the State Reservation Policy, Meghalaya Civil Secretariat (Main Building) Room No. 513, Shillong, Meghalaya,
Subject: Public Notice for Representation on State Reservation Policy, Government of Meghalaya.
1.The undersigned on behalf of AIGU H/Q Shillong would like to put a few words on the reservation policy of our state as an Expert Committee has been formed by the honourable Governor of Meghalaya and that committee has asked individuals/groups to offer suggestions.
2. That Sir, our points and views in the matter are hereby laid down for your perusal as follows:
3. The current reservation policy (40% for Garos, 40% for Khasi-Jaintia,and 20% unreserved) in Meghalaya is well balanced and has served its purpose well from the very beginning.
4. The resolution on Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy Memo No – PER222/71/138 dated 12th January 1972 highlights the pioneer framework of the policy.
5. The state reservation policy, 1972 was a historical agreement made between United Khasi Jaintia and Garo for the benefit of other tribes in the state. Till today after 50 years of statehood, the Garos are still far behind the Khasi-Jaintias and there are more number of employees of Khasi and Jaintia as compared to Garos in all the departments.The reservation of 40% for the Garo and 40% for the United Khasi- Jaintia has been in operation for over 50 years and during those periods we have seen that many of the Garos have not received the full desired quota and are still being deprived of the opportunities.
6. That any alteration of the present Job Reservation Policy will upset a lot of communities as most of the communities residing in Meghalaya are well content with the present Job Reservation Policy and any alteration of the policy will adversely affect other communities’ opportunities.
7. As it can be mentioned although 40% is allotted to the Garo community, it has been observed that this quota could not be fulfilled in many cases due to various reasons.
8. That the socio-economic circumstances of the Garo community are still far backward compared to the Khasi-Jaintia community. Therefore, we urge that the agreed reservation quota created on 12th January 1972 should be continued as usual and any kind of modification should be avoided.
9. Currently the ratio of reservation among the different communities of Meghalaya is in a fine equilibrium and any kind of amendment in this ratio is absolutely undesirable.
10. AIGU meeting was conducted to discuss and deliberate on the ongoing subject matter. The agenda of the meeting is solely to discuss about the review of the States Reservation Policy, 1972. The meeting was held to obtain the personal views as to whether to seek or not to seek the modification/revision of the State Reservation Policy 1972.
11. The Meghalaya Reservation Policy provides equal opportunities for the people residing in the state and also, the policy has helped to preserve and promote these cultures.
12. The quality of education imparted in Garo Hills and the availability of quality education institutions in Garo Hills is not comparable to Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills.
13. That the socio-economic circumstances of the Garo community are still far backward compared to the Khasi Jaintia Community Therefore, we urge that the agreed reservation quota created on 12th January 1972 should be continued as usual and any kind of modification should be avoided. That in case there is modification in the existing policy then it will hurt the feelings of Garo people and their sentiments will be badly hurt which will not be in the interest of entire Meghalaya, and there will be chance of riots. So, the status quo should be maintained.
14. The cry for review of the state policy is being raised not by a deprived community of the state but shenanigans of a political party for political expediency and gains under the wilful guise of cry of inequality supposedly faced by its community disregarding Garo people. Therefore the hue and cry must be taken with a pinch of salt by its community disregarding Garo people’s deprivation. Therefore the hue and cry must be taken with a pinch of salt because it is not for the general benefits of the STs in the state but directed for the benefits of some.
15. A casual glance of the report will lay bare the injustice heaped on the community where there are 15157 backlogs of jobs yet to be rightly accrued by the Garos.
16. The current reservation policy (40% for Garos, 40% Khasi -Jaintia, 5% for OBC and 15% unreserved in Meghalaya is well balanced and has served its purpose very well from the very beginning.
Yours faithfully,
Shri Elbarth Marak
President of All India Garo Union
HQ, Shillong
