SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has said that the State Government will examine the possibilities of introducing a roster system in the State to ensure that there is no room for “discrimination.”
“Whatever mechanism is required for effective implementation of the reservation policy will be put in place to leave no room for perception of discrimination,” he said on the floor of the House on Thursday while replying to a cut motion moved by Chokpot legislator Clifford R Marak.
According to him, a survey on the State Government employees might show a lopsided representation for certain communities.
The Chief Minister said that a large number of these employees are those appointed in the early 80s when sufficient candidates from some other communities were not available or when most posts created were only in the secretariat and in the offices of the Head of Departments in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
Earlier, moving the cut motion the Chokpot legislator suggested that the State Government should introduce a new roster system as is done in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
“This roster system will provide an equal opportunity to the government employees belong to the various tribes and other communities in terms of promotion,” he said.
Participating in the discussion, NPP legislator James K Sangma said that a small number of Garo officers are working at the State Secretariat.
“As per the information provided by the Chief Minister on the floor of the House, out of the 173 officers in the Civil Secretariat only 33 are Garos. This figure shows that the percentage of Garo officers is not even 40 per cent,” Sangma said.
“We will want that the State Reservation Policy which provides a reservation of 40 per cent each for Garos and Khasi-Jaintias should be strictly adhered to,” the NPP legislator said.
He also endorsed the demand to introduce the roster system.
Nongthymmai legislator Jemino Mawthoh impressed on the need to protect the rights of the differently-abled people, physically challenged and people with disability in terms of job reservation and promotion. “Three percent job reservation for the disabled in jobs and promotions should be strictly followed,” Mawthoh said.