Meghalaya Cabinet okays reservation for poor families

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday approved the Office Memorandum (OM) of guidelines for the issuance of income and assets certificates for the Economically Weaker Sections (ESW) in the State.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that the OM was issued by the Government of India, but the State Government had not issued the OMs in reference to that.

"So that was rectified and today we have approved the OM and this is basically for reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in civil posts and services in Government of India offices and admission in educational institution which are Central institutions," the Chief Minister said. Sangma also said that this is for those persons who are not covered under the existing schemes of reservation like for the SC/ST and the Socially and Educationally backward classes.

"So, therefore, this does not apply to majority of the population of Meghalaya. This is applicable to those who are not benefitting under the existing schemes of reservation of the SC/ST," Sangma added.

The Chief Minister said that families whose incomes are less than Rs 8 lakh annually will come under the EWS certificates. However, families owning five acres or more of agricultural land will not be entitled for this facility even if their annual income Rs 8 lakh or less

Those possessing residential flats of 1000 sq ft or 100 square yards and residential plots of 200 square yards in non-municipal areas, will also not be entitled.

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