SHILLONG, Feb 19: The confusion surrounding the reservation roster among the District Selection Committee officials, citizens, and politicians alike, led Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton L Tongkhar to propose a combined reservation of 80 per cent for the three major tribes of the state.
He said the delay in holding of exams and declaration of results had exacerbated the unemployment crisis among the youth of the state.
Tongkhar proposed clearer guidelines for recruitment processes in the districts. He advocated for a combined reservation of 80 per cent for Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos, instead of the existing 40-40 reservation policy for Khasis-Jaintias and Garos. He argued that population imbalances at the district level necessitated such a shift.
Tongkhar urged the government to revise a “confusing” section in the office memorandum and said “In Garo Hills the combined reservation of 80 per cent will be available to Garos in the absence of any interested candidate belonging to the Khasi-Jaintia community, while in Jowai or Shillong, the combined reservation of 80 per cent will be available to Khasis and Jaintias in the absence of any interested candidates from the Garo community.”
Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem suggested that the combined reservation of 80 per cent should not come after the recruitment process as a preference given to candidates. He proposed that departments with vacancies in Ri-Bhoi should only accept applications from applicants permanently residing in the district. Additionally, he stated, “The preference factor will only come when the applicants have passed the exam, but if they have not, then it is unfair as the youth are still backward.”
The sentiment was supported by Nongstoin MLA Gabriel Wahlang.
Adding to this, Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit suggested expediting the formation of the expert committee for the reservation policy, stating, “There is a need to restructure these district selection committees, fill these posts with non-political individuals or members of political parties and to maintain the confidentiality of all the DSC members.”
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma emphasised the importance of local language proficiency for candidates applying under the DSCs. He announced that applicants must now qualify in a local language paper.
In response to a motion raised by Tongkhar to discuss the delay by the DSCs in conducting exams and declaring results, Sangma underscored the need for adherence to legal frameworks while ensuring inclusivity and efficiency in the recruitment process.
The government is implementing procedural changes aimed at streamlining operations and reducing delays, he said.
Acknowledging the time-consuming nature of the recruitment process, Sangma mentioned the establishment of more recruitment boards to expedite procedures. However, he noted that separate boards for all departments would be impractical.
The chief minister outlined changes in the document scrutiny process, which will now occur after candidates have cleared the initial written test, alleviating the burden of screening a large number of applicants.
Sangma also disclosed that DSCs will have authority over reservation rosters for district-level posts. Each district-level committee chairman will approve reservation rosters, simplifying paperwork and expediting processes.
Assuring fairness and adherence to guidelines, Sangma reiterated that political affiliations do not influence the selection process, as they are subjected to certain criteria.
