Meghalaya govt re-constitutes 12-member committee to review Job Reservation Policy

The committee has been asked to submit recommendation to the Government of Meghalaya within a month

In a big development, the Conrad Sangma-led Meghalaya government on Tuesday accepted the recommendations of the committee reviewing the Roster System to include discussion on the state job reservation policy. The government re-constituted the 12-member committee headed by state health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to discuss the implementation of the Reservation Roster System and the Job Reservation Policy.

Talking to media, minister Lyngdoh said, “We have notified that we will extend the strength of this committee and have asked political parties to co-opt two more members from individual political parties trying their best to ensure that representation of political parties is also balanced to the furthest extent possible representing indigenous tribes of the state of Meghalaya. We are also now requesting all political parties to attend the meeting that we had announced yesterday to be held tomorrow where the matters will be inclusive of all political parties. We will then further discuss matters that are relevant in the interest of the people of the state.”

The committee has been given a month’s time to submit its report.

The other members of the committee from different political parties are– Zenith M. Sanema (TMC), H.M. Shangpliang (BJP), Augustine Marak (GNC), K.P. Pangniang (HSPDP), Ronnie V. Lyngdon (Congress), Pyndapborthiaw Saibon (KHNAM), Dr. W. Kharlukhi (NPP), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (UDP ), VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Chief Secretary of Government of Meghalaya and Commissioner & Secretary personnel & A.R (B) Department.

To ensure fairer representation from all categories, each political party can choose two more representatives in addition to the members who have already been notified. Moreover, if it seems necessary, the Committee may co-opt any member to participate in its meetings, said an official notification from the Home (Political) Department of Government of Meghalaya.

It may be mentioned here that the implementation of the Roster System in the State Reservation Policy retrospectively has turned into a political hot potato with many groups as well as political parties such as–Voice of the People Party (VVP), KHNAM, Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK), the Khasi Students Union claiming that the roster system is flawed since it is detrimental to job seekers from the Khasi and Jaintia communities.

The roster system determines the reservation of posts for different categories. Since 1972, a total of 40% of state government positions have been set aside for the Garo and Khasi groups, 5% for other in-state tribes, and 15% for the general population.

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