SHILLONG, MAR 17: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) on Tuesday condemned the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) for omitting the Jaintia category from a March 14 corrigendum on Assistant Engineer recruitment, warning the lapse threatened the recognition of Jaintia identity.
In a statement, the JSU said the original classification listed “Khasi‑Jaintia,” but the corrigendum for the Urban Affairs Department post advertised in December 2021 mentions only Khasi.
“This unexplained omission raises grave concerns regarding the recognition and representation of the Jaintia identity,” the union said.
“The (JSU) central body views this as a matter of utmost seriousness and strongly condemns any action or oversight that appears to diminish or disregard the identity and rightful reservation share of the Jaintia community. Such omissions, whether intentional or otherwise, undermine the principles of equity, inclusion, and constitutional safeguards meant to protect indigenous communities,” it added.
The JSU linked the notice to recent Assembly proceedings in which a representative from Nongkrem constituency reportedly failed to acknowledge the Jaintia community.
“This, when viewed alongside the present issue, suggests a troubling trend of neglect toward the Jaintia identity.”
Demanding the MSPC to take corrective measures, the JSU said, “(We) urge the MPSC to immediately clarify this matter and take necessary corrective measures to restore the rightful representation of the Jaintia category in all official documents. We also call upon concerned authorities to ensure that the identity, dignity, and rights of the Jaintia community are respected and upheld at all times.”
By Our Reporter
