KHNAM demands govt to review state reservation policy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 2, 2020

KHNAM legislator, Adelbert Nongrum on Friday demanded the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to review the state reservation policy.

“The state reservation policy for employment and academic courses that has been left unattended for almost 50 years is required to be reviewed and revisited at the earliest,” Nongrum said after submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma.

He alleged there is biasness in the reservation policy, which was implemented since 1972.

“I am prepared to take things forward although the issue is not against the state government,” the MLA said.

Earlier in 2016, the KHNAM had demanded 50 percent job reservation for dominant Khasi and Jaintia tribes while for Garos it may be reduced to 30 percent.

On the other hand, to ease the unemployment problem especially in view of COVID-19 pandemic, Nongrum has also suggested the need for the state government to relax the upper age limit for recruitment in government jobs.

“As has been done in other states, age relaxation while seeking employment has been raised from 38 to 42 years of age. It is therefore urged upon the government to do what is necessary in raising the age relaxation from the present 32 years to 35 years of age. In doing so, this may be a welcome boon for our youths as employment into the government sector has become more or less saturated,” the MLA said.

He further said that this relaxation shall not be applicable for only certain grade/group staffs but also be extended to other grades i.e. from grade-I to grade-IV categories in government as well as in other sectors.

Nongrum also suggested the need for the Meghalaya Public Services Commission (MPSC) to ensure that state civil services examinations are conducted annually so that the age factor of the youth is not affected.