By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 13: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Tuesday urged the Meghalaya government to immediately make public the expert committee report on the review of the state’s job reservation policy, warning that further delay could deepen tensions between communities.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said the issue is “extremely sensitive” and directly affects both Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities.
He said the expert committee consulted all stakeholders before submitting its report, yet the government has not released it even after nearly six months since receiving it.
He asked what was preventing the government from making the findings public. He said the recommendations could be examined transparently when the report is in the public domain.
Stating that Khasi-Jaintia and Garo groups are demanding job reservation, Synrem said the issue must be resolved “once and for all”. According to him, six months is more than sufficient time for the government to study the report and make a decision.
Referring to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s remark that the report is voluminous, weighing between 200 kg and 300 kg, Synrem said the focus should not be on the document’s size but on its substance.
He urged the government to implement those recommendations which are acceptable to both communities to bring a permanent solution to the issue.
Opposition to railways
Synrem reiterated that railway connectivity in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region cannot be discussed unless a strong mechanism is put in place to regulate the entry and movement of people.
Reacting to statements by the BJP and the Congress supporting railway projects in Meghalaya, he said the HYC is not opposed to development but stressed that the protection of indigenous communities must come first.
He warned that whether goods or passenger trains are introduced, railway connectivity could lead to a large-scale influx, especially when the state is struggling to regulate movement through roadways.
Synrem reiterated that the HYC will not allow railways in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region unless safeguards such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) or a similar law are implemented.
Rejecting arguments that railways would improve influx control, he cited examples from other states in the Northeast where large numbers of people continue to enter despite ILP and rail connectivity.
