UDP asks Govt to implement roster system prospectively

UDP constitutes SEC, to soon announce MP, MDC candidates

SHILLONG, MAY 26: United Democratic Party (UDP) on Friday asked the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to implement the roster system prospectively.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh and attended by MLAs and leaders of the party.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said, “Post May 17 and 19 presentation by the government, we had sat for two meetings (to discuss the matter) and today we decided that it will be appropriate and wise for the government to make the roster system effective from now onwards.”

“We felt that the implementation of the roster system should be henceforth prospectively…(because) there are no proper records maintained and there are no proper roster register being maintained all these years. So it will not be appropriate for anyone to consider that the records available now are correct,” he added.

He said that the party had also raised some points during the meeting convened by the chief minister with MLAs of the MDA that “if needed we will come back to the CM to get clarification as far as reservation and implementation of the roster system is concerned.”

Stating that the issue is very sensitive and very fragile, Lyngdoh, who is also Chairman of the State Planning Board, said, “We need to discuss it at a very serious platform where we can sort out all these concerns.”

He said that the government has formed a committee on roster which will be headed by a cabinet minister adding that the party will also nominate one of its MLAs to represent the party in the committee to address the concerns and issues related to the roster system.

“I would be very specific, on the roster system,” he added.

When asked, Lyngdoh said that the party would also discuss with the government with regards to the need to review the present job reservation policy.

“We have to understand the first part of the matter is the roster system. The roster system is with regards to the present reservation policy. Now, I would like to make it very clear here that as a party we had mentioned very clearly and nobody can deny that in our manifesto the subject of reviewing reservation policy is there. We will initiate this also and we will address this also in the right platform. Since we are also part of the government, we will discuss this with the government and address the concerns on what needs to be reviewed on this reservation,” he stated.

Referring to the ongoing hunger strike by VPP president Ardent M Basaiawmoit, the UDP chief said that the chief minister and cabinet ministers are there and they will look into this matter.