SHILLONG, Feb 26: Opposition Voice of the People’s Party president Ardent Basiiawamit on Wednesday demanded a seven per cent increase in the reservation quota for the Khasi community while retaining the existing 40 per cent share for the Garos, drawing a cautious response from Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Participating in a short-duration discussion on the state’s reservation policy in the Assembly, Basiiawamit expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendations of the expert committee, which had suggested continuation of the 1972 framework with limited changes. He said the High Court had raised concerns only about the absence of a roster system and had not struck at the core of the policy.
Citing Clause 4 of Article 16 of the Constitution, he stated that the original policy sought to correct inadequate representation of the Khasi and Garo communities while ensuring administrative efficiency. He added that earlier leaders had avoided rigid mechanisms to preserve flexibility, but judicial observations now necessitated the introduction of a roster system.
Arguing on demographic grounds, Basiiawamit said the Khasi population was nearly double that of the Garo community and that enhancing the Khasi quota to 47 per cent would still keep the Garo allocation intact at 40 per cent and remain within the overall 50 per cent ceiling. He maintained that his proposal would not reduce the Garo share.
The VPP leader, who undertook a 10-day hunger strike in 2023 seeking a review of the policy, cautioned that unresolved implementation issues could trigger legal complications for previous recruitments.
The expert committee, constituted by the Assembly, had recommended retaining the present structure while introducing a roster system, strengthening monitoring mechanisms and conducting periodic assessments of socio-economic indicators. It observed that population figures alone should not determine reservation percentages.
Responding to the debate, Chief Minister Sangma said the reservation issue was complex and sensitive in the state’s socio-political context. He stated that consultations suggested many organisations preferred better implementation of the existing policy rather than structural changes. He warned that any proposal must be carefully examined to avoid inviting judicial scrutiny.
The Chief Minister said the government had reviewed all aspects of the policy and emphasised the need to address socio-economic backwardness through effective execution. He also highlighted unemployment as a pressing concern and called for greater focus on entrepreneurship and private sector growth alongside government employment.
Sangma added that more than 3.8 lakh jobs had been generated in the state over the past eight years, underscoring the administration’s commitment to expanding employment opportunities.
