TURA: The inclusion of a non-tribal in the list of Other Scheduled Tribe (OST)/Scheduled Caste category for undergoing BVSc & AH Degree Course has exasperated several minority tribal bodies, who have sought Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s intervention into the matter.
The female candidate, who neither belonged to the Koch tribe or the Scheduled Tribe, was placed under serial number 1 in the list of OST/Scheduled Caste category for undergoing the aforesaid degree course under Central Agriculture University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur or Assam Agriculture University Jorhat, Assam for the year 2020-21.
The bodies including the Meghalaya Koch Association (MKA), Meghalaya Koch Students’ Union (MKSU) and the Meghalaya Hajong Welfare Association (MHWA), in a joint memorandum to Conrad, have sought the cancellation of the candidature.
“If she proves herself to be a member of the Koch tribe or other scheduled tribe by producing a caste certificate, she has obtained the same by dubious means,” the Meghalaya Koch Association claimed.
The organisations further claimed an RTI was filed earlier, but to no avail.
Interestingly, according to the organisations, the same candidate had earlier also been selected for undergoing a four-year degree course of BSc (Hons) Agriculture at the College of Agriculture, Imphal, under CAU for the academic session 2020-21.
“The selection of a non-tribal candidate in a reserved category has deprived the deserving candidates of their rights and opportunities. Her inclusion in the list defeats the spirit of the Constitution of India and we urge you to immediately cancel her candidature,” the organisations demanded.