Northeast Desk, 15th June: The Garo Students Union’s Central Executive Committee (GSU CEC) has called on the Expert Committee reviewing Meghalaya’s State Reservation Policy to preserve the existing system. This appeal comes amid concerns about the continued marginalization of the Garo community, prompting the Meghalaya High Court to instruct the state government to reinstate the roster system in job employment after a 52-year gap.
In a letter to L K Diengdoh, Secretary of the Expert Committee on the State Reservation Policy, GSU CEC President Tengsak G Momin stressed the ongoing marginalization of the Garo community. Momin highlighted the lack of educational and economic opportunities, as well as inadequate representation in government services for the Garos.
Momin cited a 2022 census report on state government employees, which revealed a backlog of 15,157 jobs that should have been allocated to Garos. He criticized the push for a review of the reservation policy, describing it as a strategic move by the united Khasi-Jaintia tribe to claim a larger share of opportunities. According to Momin, this group already enjoys better access to education and economic resources.
The GSU pointed out that the urgent need to address the backlog of jobs for Garos has been sidelined due to potential ethnic conflicts and the government’s verbal assurances to rectify the situation. The union contends that calls to modify the 1972 Job Reservation Policy are politically motivated, using claims of perceived discrimination to undermine a policy designed for equitable allocation among the three dominant scheduled tribes and other communities.
The Garo Students Union firmly believes that maintaining the status quo is essential to protect the rights and opportunities of the Garo community, advocating for a fair and balanced approach to job reservations in Meghalaya.