Dimapur, September 15 (MExN): MLA K Therie has cautioned the state government that the 25% job reservation assured to the “eastern” Nagas should not come at the cost of Other Backward Tribes (OBTs). The legislator also demanded that the government come out with a detailed explanation to the people, the grounds of the reservation policy.
While ‘congratulating’ the ENSF for securing the 25% job reservation assurance, Therie in a note expressed certainty that every right-thinking people would support the cause of the remaining other backward tribes (OBT) namely Chakhesang, Pochury, Zeliang, Kukis and Kacharis etc. However, the nuances of the reservation should be explained to the pubic, Therie stated.
Therie queried: “The Government has to come out with a detailed explanation to the people: Whether the reservation is based on total employees in the state or on total vacancies? Whether the reservation policy is based on population or any or the criteria? Whether 25% reservation is out 33.33% or out of the remaining 76.66% or out of 100%?”
He shared his viewpoint that that the objective of BT reservation policy is to have a minimum composition of 33.33% employees out of 100%. However, today, the dimension appears to be changing from 33.33% to 25% and 8.33% for OBT, he stated.
“If 8.33% is reserved for OBT, these tribes will be deprived from opportunity if the number of posts vacant is below 10. All retired vacancies are one and have no reservation. Therefore, to do justice, OBT should also be given 25%. Gifting 25% to the Eastern Nagas should not be at the cost of OBT” Therie reminded. The MLA also pointed out that in the present practice, reservation is applied based on total vacancies and not on total employees and from past experience. “We have seen that the number of vacancies is always less than the water mark of the reservation and therefore, reservation is not applied. This is in violation of the principles of reservation policy. The Government should ensure that reservation policy is applied based on total strength of the employees in the state” Therie advised.
He further gave the ‘reasons for failure of the policy that in the past, departments have argued that the policy is based on total vacancies and not based on total employees; neither on total population. “We have seen that vacancies are always less than the water mark of the reservation and therefore, reservation is not applied” MLA Therie observed.
76.66% is supposed to be open to all. However, in practice it is reserved for the advanced tribes. To effectively implement the P&AR, Evaluation Department, Labor and Employment and NPSC should synchronize in maintaining employment census. NPSC should be well represented proportionately, based on population, he stated.
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