By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 14: The UDP on Friday submitted its eight-point suggestions and recommendations to the chairperson of the committee of political parties on reservation roster, Ampareen Lyngdoh.
Later, UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh said, “We presented to her our observations and as you are aware, different political parties, NGOs, individuals and stakeholders have raised the issue of reviewing the reservation policy.”
He recalled that a decision was made at an all-party meeting on May 21 to seek the suggestions and recommendations of all political parties in the state.
Mawthoh said the UDP had incorporated the issue of review of the reservation policy in its last election manifesto and accordingly, it did its bit in response to the committee chairperson’s request to political parties.
“We sat for 14 meetings to deliberate on the issue by engaging legal experts, academicians, scholars etc, and finally, we came up with eight observations,” the UDP general secretary said.
“We want our observations to be thoroughly examined by the government and the expert committee so that the same benefits the people of the state. Our recommendations are non-discriminatory and acceptable to all the reserved categories in the state,” he added.
He said the UDP’s observations are not just about the percentage or proportion of reservation but there are other related aspects.
Stating that the state’s three tribes have been living together in harmony for 51 years and there is mutual respect, the UDP leader said, “We have to come up with a formula that will be acceptable to the three tribes.”