Shillong, Oct 24: Five pressure groups have decided to start Save Hynniewtrep Mission’ by holding a series of agitations to pressure the state government to fulfill the nine-point charter of demands, including the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) before the Assembly polls.
Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), East Jaintia National Council (EJNC), Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM), Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) and the Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CoRP) have decided this on Monday.
“There will be a series of agitations in the next few days to ensure that the state government comply with the nine-point charter of demands before the model code of conduct (MCC) comes to effect in the state in view of the upcoming 2023 Assembly elections,” HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem told reporters.
Besides ILP, the demands of the five pressure groups include the immediate relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong, review of the MoU signed under the first phase of border talks with Assam, need to punish the police officials involved in the killing of ex-HNLC leader Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew, action against people involved in various scams under Saubhagya and smart meter projects, resolving unemployment crisis, reviewing the office memorandum on job recruitment at the district level and repealing of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act (MRGA), 2021.
‘Recruitment anomaly’
The HYC accused the government of doing injustice to the Khasi and Jaintia people while poiting out at the recent office memorandum for job recruitment at the district level.
“We found out that this office memorandum is tilted towards our friends from the Garo Hills… they will get 80% reservation at the DSC level. This is an injustice to the Hynniewtrep people”, Synrem said.
“The memorandum was notified by the state government for jobs at the DSC level and our Garo friends are getting 80% and when it comes to our Khasi Jaintia Hills districts we have to give them also some reservations. So we think that if they can get 80% in their own district, why should they get another 40% in other districts in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.”, the HYC leader said.
