Opposition VPP to agitate on job recruitment in Meghalaya

Meghalaya’s opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Monday announced its first phase of agitation to mount pressure on the Conrad Sangma-led government to halt the recruitment processes until issues regarding the state job reservation and roster system are resolved.
VPP Spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said the party would stage a sit-in demonstration at the parking lot near the Additional Secretariat on May 17 from 10 am to 4 pm. Myrboh said in view of the adamant attitude and lack of response of the NPP- led MDA 2.0 government to the demand of the party on the need to put on hold all the recruitment process in the state till the state job reservation policy and the implementation of the roster system is reviewed by an expert committee,
“The party workers and the public are urged to participate in the protest to put pressure on the NPP- led government. It may be noted that this government is trying to make itself immune to logic, fairness and public concerns. The other programmes will be subsequently announced”, the VPP spokesperson said.
85 percent of the state government jobs are reserved for the tribal communities. 40 percent is reserved for the for the Khasi-Jaintia-Bhoi communities, while 40 per cent for the Garos. Another five percent is reserved for the other tribes residing in the state.
Several pressure groups from Garo Hills are now demanding that the roster system must be implemented retrospectively since the formation of the state.
However, pressure groups in Khasi Hills are demanding that the roster system should be implemented prospectively.