Shillong. Aug. 7: The D.D. Lapang government in Meghalaya has decided to take the political and student leadership into confidence — it describes the process as a “convergence of ideas” — before drawing up a new reservation policy.

Representatives of the three main student associations of the state and leaders of political parties will sit with the government to evolve a consensus on reservation and steps to check the influx of non-indigenous labourers.

Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) leader Samuel Jyrwa today said his organisation would not budge from its stand on reservation. He said the KSU had forwarded two formulas.

“The government can implement 90 per cent blanket reservation for indigenous tribals and leave the remaining 10 per cent for others. The other option is to announce 50 per cent reservation for the Khasis, 25 per cent for the Garos and the remaining 25 per cent for all sections, based on merit.”

Apart from the KSU, leaders of the Jaintia Students Union and the Garo Students Union have been invited to the meeting with the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.

The KSU has recommended a work-permit system for non-indigenous labourers from both within and outside the country. The government, which is taking its time to arrive at a solution, has assured the KSU and other student unions that it will make “a sincere effort by involving members of political parties, including the Opposition”.

Public works department minister Mukul Sangma said the government would formulate policies that would find acceptance among all sections of the people. He said it would address the issues both at the political and social levels, involving not just politicians but all the major students unions in the process.

The minister, however, admitted that the government had yet to work out a formula to be able to discuss the subject of reservation in terms of figures.

Tura rally: Nearly 10,000 Garos today came out in three processions to protest the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and the KSU’s demand for a change in the reservation policy, adds our correspondent Bidhayak Das from Tura.

The processions were taken out in Tura, Baghmara and Williamnagar under the banner of the Garo Hills Citizens’ Forum. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills district.