SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has advocated for a significant reservation policy shift, urging that 93% of reservations be allocated to Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Meghalaya.
This recommendation was conveyed in a letter to the experts’ committee on state reservation policy by HYC president Roykupar Synrem.
Synrem stated, “If the Supreme Court deems the sub-classification of STs/SCs constitutionally and legally valid, the reservation should be 50% for the Khasi-Jaintia community, 40% for the Garo category, and 3% for other STs.”
“If sub-classification is found invalid, we propose a combined 93% reservation for STs, 2% for SCs, and 5% unreserved,” stated Synrem.
The HYC also recommended retaining the combined reservation for STs at the district level, suggesting an increase to 93% for STs, 2% for SCs, and 5% for the unreserved category.
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Addressing the current reservation policy in Meghalaya, which groups STs and SCs under a single 5% reservation category, Synrem criticized this as “highly illegal”.
He proposed a separate 3% reservation for other STs and 2% for SCs.
Additionally, the HYC called for the inclusion of casual workers, contractual, and non-permanent employees in government institutions and undertakings in the reservation policy if their employment exceeds 30 days and is renewable.
HYC highlighted the need for a clear definition of “scientific services and posts” and a proper categorization of such jobs.
They also recommended abolishing the “carry-forward” provision for unfilled reserved category posts and suggested these be filled by other reserved categories based on merit.
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The HYC expressed the need to redefine the term “Government Aided Institutions” within the policy.
If institutions like SSA, ADHOC, and Deficit schools are included, they propose the same 93% ST, 2% SC, and 5% unreserved reservation structure for recruitment.
Furthermore, the HYC called for separate legislation to govern reservation for teachers’ cadres in fully government and government-aided educational institutions.
They also suggested legislation for reservation in admissions to educational institutions and for pursuing higher studies outside Meghalaya under a government quota, advocating the same 93% ST, 2% SC, and 5% unreserved policy.