Meghalaya: VPP calls for revision of job reservation policy based on scientific grounds

Shillong: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) in Shillong has reiterated its call for revising Meghalaya's job reservation policy, advocating for a more scientifically and logically grounded approach.

Party spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh raised concerns about the existing policy formulated in 1972. Myrboh emphasized that the policy lacks consistency with population data, particularly the quantum of reservation allotted to different groups.

The VPP believes the 1971 census data should be the basis for any reservation policy, as it accurately reflects the state's population structure at the time.

The party also pointed out discrepancies, such as the combining of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) under a unified 85% job reservation, despite these communities being distinct.

Myrboh argued that SCs and other STs should be treated separately for reservation purposes.

The debate also touched on national reservation policies. Myrboh noted that although the Supreme Court has not reduced reservations for SCs and STs, it has capped reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at 50%.

Myrboh highlighted that despite STs being more disadvantaged than OBCs, they receive only 7.5% reservation at the national level, while OBCs are allotted 27%.

Various political figures, including BJP leaders AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai, as well as UDP and VPP leaders Adelbert Nongrum and Mayralborn Syiem, also presented their views to the expert committee reviewing the policy.

Their suggestions ranged from prioritizing vulnerable sections within the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities to proposing different distribution models of job reservation within these tribes.