Meghalaya: A’CHIK demands Govt discuss Roster System in next Cabinet, threatens to stir if demands not met

The A’chik Concious Holistic Integrated Krima (A’CHIK) on Thursday demanded the state Government discuss the Roster System and the issue of setting up of the Winter Capital in Tura in the next Cabinet meeting or all-party meeting.

The organization also submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong warning that there would be no compromise on the issue of cut-off date for the Roster System and that the year 1972 should be considered for the Roster System of Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy which is a system to bring equity to the injustices met out to the people of A’chik people.

It also said that the issue of setting up of a Winter Capital has already been raised with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

The organisation warned that if its demands were not met, it would not hesitate to use democratic rallies and demonstrations. It would also approach the Apex Court if the Achik people were treated unfairly by the Cabinet or All Party Meeting when making decisions about the Roster System of Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy.

It further stated that the organisation had already begun organising such actions across the Garo Hills.

It may be mentioned that on April 12, Deputy Chief Minister Preston Tynsong said that the State Government will soon convene a Cabinet meeting and an all-party meeting to discuss the Roster System and after that, the Government will decide how to deal with the matter.

Responding to a query about a section of people demanding the recruitment processes in all government offices to be put on hold, Dy CM Preston Tynsong said that the implementation of the Roster System in the State Reservation Policy with retrospective effect in Meghalaya was not the decision of the Meghalaya Government, it was the Meghalaya High Court’s decision.

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 Meghalaya High Court had earlier refused to give any cut-off year for the roster system while dismissing a PIL by ACHIK vice president Greneth Sangma with a note that the decision for a cut-off date or how far back the roster system would be made applicable is left with the legislature and the executive.

Also Read: