SHILLONG: Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) President Lambokstarwell Marngar has strongly criticised the Meghalaya Government over the lack of progress in revising the State Reservation Policy, alleging that the government-appointed Expert Committee has failed to deliver meaningful reforms.
Speaking to reporters, Marngar expressed concern that despite repeated reviews and consultations, the reservation framework continues to remain largely unchanged since its introduction in 1972, failing to reflect present demographic realities.
Reiterating the union’s long-standing position, the KSU leader stated that employment reservation quotas must evolve in line with population growth and socio-economic changes within the state.
Among the key proposals highlighted by the union:
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Increase in Quota: Enhancement of reservation for Khasi and Jaintia communities from 40% to 50%.
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Demographic Justification: The union argues that population growth within the Hynniewtrep region warrants proportional revision.
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Protection of Existing Share: Marngar clarified that the proposed increase should not affect the reservation quota currently allocated to the Garo community.
Marngar alleged that expectations of comprehensive reform following the constitution of the Expert Committee have not been met, describing the exercise as ineffective.
“We expected reform and a fresh perspective, but the government is simply wasting time,” he said, adding that many submissions made by stakeholders were allegedly not reflected in the final recommendations.
He further claimed that the policy structure remains virtually identical to its original framework introduced over five decades ago.
In response to the ongoing stalemate, the KSU announced that its Central Executive Council (CEC) will soon convene a high-level meeting involving legal experts from within the organisation.
The meeting will focus on conducting a detailed review of the existing reservation policy and committee findings and formulating future strategies to push for policy correction and implementation of proposed changes.
Marngar stressed that reservation policies must adapt to changing realities to maintain fairness and social stability in government recruitment.
He urged the state government to initiate timely reforms to ensure that employment opportunities reflect the present demographic and administrative landscape of Meghalaya.
