SHILLONG, May 21: The KSU on Sunday demanded that the NPP-led MDA Government should place the proposal for implementing the roster system in the public domain.
“The civil societies and the public at large are still in the dark on the plan of the government. We would like the government to make public the details of the presentation on the roster system which was shared during the all-party meet,” KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah told The Shillong Times.
He also suggested that the state government should invite the civil societies and pressure groups to deliberate on this issue.
According to him, they are yet to receive any intimation from the government to discuss this matter.
Thabah also demanded that the state government should make public the recommendations made by the committee headed by Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.
He further suggested that the citizens can give their suggestions and views if the proposal of the state government and the recommendations of the committee are put in the public domain.
“It is only then the government will be able to take a decision that is acceptable to all citizens of the state,” the KSU general secretary said while adding that the government should implement the roster system prospectively.
The KSU general secretary reminded that there was a demand by the union in 2007 that the reservation for the Khasi-Jaintia community should be increased to 50% and for the Garos it should remain untouched at 40%.
Thabah also mentioned that as per the 2011 Census, the Khasi-Jaintia population is approximately 13 lakhs while the Garo population is approximately 8 lakh.
“Our population is around 5 lakh more as compared to the Garo population. It was on this basis we felt that the reservation for the Khasi-Jaintia category should be increased,” Thabah said.