By Albert Thyrniang
All eyes are on the search committee to declare the expert committee on Reservation Policy review. It is wiser, perhaps, to be circumspect rather than be euphoric.
The decision to re-look at the 52 year old Office Memorandum was primarily taken due to the indefinite hunger strike by Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, the VPP president. The VPP’s demand is based solely on disproportionate allocation of jobs to the Khasi (including Jaintia) community. Sections of the public, pressure groups and political parties too support this position. To them the 40-40 distribution for the Khasis and Garos is unfair since the Khasis are a bigger group. Hence the VPP wants a higher share for the Khasis. To expect the expert committee to make recommendation in this direction would be a shock. Political parties, pressure groups and civil society in Garo Hills will reject it outright. Nothing less than status quo would be acceptable. The argument put forward is that, ‘even today Garos have not been able to maximise their quota of 40%’. Their rightful share has been taken by Khasi Hills, by default. It is estimated that the Garos have been able to avail of only about 30% of the jobs due to them. If their quota is further reduced to less than 40% then their representation in the government services will also be diminished accordingly. The Garo Graduate Union (GGU) has already shot off a letter to chief minister strongly opposing the review of the reservation policy. The review itself could even be a non-starter.
Now coming to another point, Paul Lyngdoh’s outburst against taxi drivers and calling them Class 7/8/9 pass is highly objectionable. Everyone has the right to protest. Even the 7/8/9 pass have a voice. If the minister says that only university graduates can lecture then the MLAs and ministers with class 9/10/12 certificates should resign. There are some in the UDP too. During elections their vigorous campaigns are heard by university alumni. Their speech in the Assembly is for the whole state, including those more qualified than them. They take decisions on behalf of the educated as well. Now, the Social Welfare minister even contemplates legal actions against journalists who question the government’s clean chit to itself on the ‘rice scam.’
However, the former KSU president has a point. His opposition to the those who ‘woke him up’ from his slumber with the beating of tins cannot necessarily be restrained from their right to protest. A point is being made and an illusion created in the public mind that what is preventing youths from getting government jobs is the current reservation policy. If changed, the policy will provide employment to their children and the future generations as well. A frenzy was created on this pretext. Volunteers of a pressure group went to MLAs in Khasi-Jaintia Hills to force them to speak favourably on this matter of ‘life and death.’ But will any reservation policy take care of unemployment, joblessness and job scarcity? Even if the quota is ‘improved’ by 10% only a small percentage of people will benefit. The VPP is fooling the ordinary people by making it a ‘Jaitbynriew’ prestige issue. The people at large will not profit a great deal from the review. Realistically it will not make much of a difference to the ‘Jaitbynriew.’ The gullible masses are given a false hope.
There is a suggestion that in the new reservation policy the socio-economically weak and backward sections should be given priority. This is, in fact, the core of reservation. But this finds few takers. The proposal is shot down arguing that the Supreme Court gives guide lines only for general ST/SC/OBC reservations. It is also reasoned that it is difficult to determine the socio-economically weaker sections in Meghalaya. Hence the idea of AL Hek that families who have remained poor for ages will not be considered for reservation.
The hype on the reservation review is thus unwarranted. It could turn out to be a damp squib. Only the privileged few will continue to enjoy reservation. Favoritism and nepotism will remain. People of Nongstoin told this writer that in the last five years there was no advertisement for jobs. Yet many relatives and friends of the former MLA were appointed in different departments. Whatever form the new reservation policy takes shape, the large sections of Meghalayans will still have to fend for themselves. The meritorious will continue to be disgruntled. Placing an illusionary hope on the review of the policy will only lead to disillusionment. The VPP is a political party. Like others, it also promises the impossible. Fighting corruption and ending political appointments are its founding ideology. Till date the VPP has remained silent on corruption and said nothing on the excessive political appointments.
Instead of listing those who fall under the reservation umbrella let us name those who should be excluded. First, the creamy layer – the socially, economically and educationally highly advanced members of a backward class! Through various judgements the Supreme Court holds that the reservation benefits should not be extended to these affluent individuals. ST individuals belonging to the ‘creamy layer’ are not eligible for reservations. The review committee should identify this creamy layer in Meghalaya. They may be barred from reservation. It is this group that has reaped much of the fruits of reservation. They prevent those who really need reservation to come up in life. Saleng Sangma bats for non-inclusion of these ‘uplifted’ families so that others get a better opportunity to come up. Political families should also be barred. If we look at families of MPs/MLAs/MDCs and former MPS/MLAs/MDCs we find that their spouse and children are government employees. They perpetuate this privilege for generations.
Additionally, families whose annual income exceeds Rs 8 lakhs are recommended to be exempted from reservation. In Meghalaya there are families galore with this level of income and also many crorepati families that continue to avail reservation. Is this fair and just? Why should they be treated equally with those who can’t afford a square meal a day? Next are families who own at least 5 acres; families who have a house of 1000 square feet and more; families with 100 square yards of residential plot etc., no longer belong to the ‘Economically Backward section’ and hence cannot claim for reservation in certain areas. Of course the centre has approached the court not to apply the creamy layer concept to the ST/SC category. However, should the job review committee not look at this aspect? Merely assigning quotas based on the population of mainly the two major tribes, the Khasis and Garos, without identifying who really deserves reservation is a cosmetic exercise. Even allotting 80% for the dominant groups will be putting old wine in new wineskin as the truly deserving will not benefit.
We may like to cling on to reservation; we may be shameless for doing so even after 50 years of statehood in a tribal dominated state, but a world without reservation will come. It may be through legislation or judicial intervention, but sooner or later the world of equal competition will make its advent. Manipur is heading towards this direction. Vote bank politics or majoritarian policies that appease the Meitei community may well be the latest advanced group to be added in the ST list thus effectively rendering the ST quota meaningless. In Meghalaya the TMC legislator from Rajabala, Mizanur Rahman Kazi has already demanded for 50% reservation for the unreserved category, which is equal to turning the state quota-less. His statement is ridiculous, but is a warning for the eventuality.
But the government is not preparing the youths to face the challenge. Our education has failed. It has not produced an IAS in a long time. Meghalaya is infamous again. The record of the highest percentage of secondary school dropouts in 2021-22 is ours. At 21.7% we are almost double the national average of 12.6%. Everyone knows the pathetic results in Garo Hills but no one dares to bell the cat. The failures are from government schools, deficit, ad hoc schools and RMSA schools runs by committees that are soft targets for political interference. Pitiful infrastructure, teachers’ irregularity and absenteeism, absence of supervision and monitoring of these schools are the norms. There is no accountability. The only performing schools are the ‘missionary’ and private schools. When something goes wrong in Pine Mount School in Shillong, protests are held and immediate action taken but not in rural schools even after 50 years.
Way back in 2015 when a top MBOSE official jibed at ‘lazy’ students for the then dismal results in Garo Hills, this author pointed to the prolonged and excessive religious festivals, namely, Christmas, new year and the various types of ‘sobhas’ as one of the reasons for the annual gloomy results. Students are distracted by these ‘unending’ festivities. Religion is preventing students from excelling in studies. Off record, some pastors, priests and nuns reached out to me agreeing with my assessment. But no one dares to change the system.
In fine, the Reservation Policy is a political tool. This is clearly evident to the discerning.