Shillong, Feb 27: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) strongly condemns Mr. Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, President of the VPP, for repeatedly attempting to neglect and exclude the Pnar or Jaintia tribe from the Scheduled Tribe reservation list an entitlement they have rightfully enjoyed since 1972 by referring only to them within the Khasi community instead of acknowledging both Khasi and Jaintia.
The JSU central body strongly disapproves of any ideology that seeks to exclude the Pnar orJaintia language and identity from Meghalaya. It is well known and officially recognized that Meghalaya is home to three major tribes, the Khasi, the Jaintia, and the Garo.
The Jaintia Students’ Union further highlights that there are three Autonomous District Councils in the State of Meghalaya: the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, all of which are officially recognized and acknowledged by the Government of India.
Furthermore, the issuance of a Scheduled Tribe certificate by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner clearly identifies individuals born in the Jaintia Hills as belonging to the Jaintia community, and not as Khasi.
This clearly demonstrates that the Jaintia community, although sharing certain similarities with the Khasi, possesses its own distinct identity, culture, traditions, and beliefs.
From the side of the JSU, we strongly urge unity within the Jaintia community and call upon our people not to be divided. This is a crucial time for solidarity in safeguarding our identity, so that the Jaintia people are neither removed, erased, nor merged with another community.
The JSU in the press statement issued to saif that “We must stand together to protect and uphold our rightful identity and our rightful place in the State of Meghalaya”.
