M’laya Job Reservation Policy Row: VPP chief A Basaiawmoit calls off hunger strike

VPP chief Ardent Bassaiawmoit who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since May 23, broke his fast today

The president of Meghalaya’s opposition party Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit called off his hunger strike today after the Conrad Sangma-led Meghalaya government announced the formation of an expert committee to review the State Job Reservation Policy.

Basaiawmoit began his fast on May 23.

Talking to the media, Bassaiawmoit said, “Since the state government has announced the formation of an expert committee to review the State Job Reservation Policy, we feel that we have achieved what we asked for and I feel that it is right on my path to call off the hunger strike.”

The development has come after the 12-member committee on the Reservation policy headed by Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh wrote to the Conrad Sangma-led Meghalaya government requesting the formation of an expert committee of legal and constitutional experts to review the Roster System and the Reservation Policy.

VPP on May 23 began its indefinite hunger strike as part of the party’s agitation against the Meghalaya government for its alleged “indifferent” and “adamant” attitude towards its demand to review the Reservation Policy.

The regional party has been firm on its stand on the Reservation Policy for government jobs in Meghalaya. The party feels the policy is not proportionate to the population. The party had reiterated that the base year of implementation must be 2021 or 2022 and not 1972.

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.

Also Read: Meghalaya: All pol parties asked to justify their verbal suggestions on roster system within 15 days

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