SHILLONG, March 15: The Assembly today rejected the resolution proposed by the KHNAM MLA from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum to revamp or re-examine the State’s Reservation Policy.
Speaking on the resolution, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Kongkal Sangma said that Meghalaya is a very small state, and the reservation for the Scheduled Tribes and Minorities in the state as seen from the resolution issued on 12/1/1972, is as per Clause 4 of Article 16 of the Constitution of India.
He said that the Reservation Policy has been working well for the communities of the State even after 50 years of Statehood, and the policy has been extended in all departments of the Government. He said that the reservation policy is a complicated matter which requires greater deliberations prior to any action being taken on it, while also adding that this matter is much deeper than it appears to be.
Adelbert Nongrum who proposed this resolution, refused to retract his proposed resolution, and as per the provisions prescribed in the Assembly, the Speaker put up the matter for a voice vote, in which the sound of ‘ No’ resonated louder.
Prior to arriving at the final decision on the matter, speeches and suggestions from many MLAs were given which also includes the suggestion of the leader of the Opposition, Dr.Mukul Sangma who said that any matter concerning the public must also be taken up for discussion in the political parties.
