Ensure recruitment of local youth in Department of Posts: Pangniang tells Conrad
Shillong, Aug15: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Wednesday sought the intervention of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to notify Khasi language as an official language to pave the way for unemployed youth to be eligible for recruitment in the Department of Posts (GDS Section) and other central government offices in Meghalaya.
“We, therefore, urge the state government under your concern to amend the Khasi, Garo language by notifying under section 6 of the Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 as an official language as stated to enable the unemployed youth to compete by recognizing the Khasi language mark sheets certificate obtained as an official language, so that they may be eligible for recruitment in the Department of Posts (GDS Section) as well as in all the central government offices,” HSPDP president KP Pangniang said in a memorandum submitted to Sangma here.
“Usage may be restricted under Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 under section 4 and Meghalaya State Language Rules 2008 under section 3, sub-para (1,2,3,4 and 5) as per notification,” Pangniang said.
He said according to the findings of the party with regards to Gram Dak Sevak or postman engaged in the rural areas of Meghalaya were not able to speak or communicate with the local residents because they don’t have any knowledge of local languages. The problem of communication has led to difficulties and misunderstanding, delays and overall negative smooth functioning of the work.
Pangniang said that the party had recently met the senior Post Master to seek first-hand clarification on this matter. The concerned office has explained at length and pointed out that the issue of recruiting local Gram Dak Sevaks lies with the central government, but he also stressed that the problem can only be taken up by the state government to solve the matters concerning the issues.
“It was understandable that the recruitment and appointment of Gram Dak Sevaks were conducted by the Ministry of Communication, Department of Posts (GDS Section). It was learned that candidates qualified in order of merits were mostly non-locals as the process of recruitment basis was done directly as per marks obtained in their mark sheets certificate which is far better compared to ours, since the Hindi language was taken into account to qualify on their behalf,” he said.
Pangniang added, “Whereas, our people or permanent residents of Meghalaya were subjected only to the English language in order of merits to qualify since the English language as per section 3 of the Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 order than Hindi was the official language of the state.”
He further pointed out that as per office memorandum dated March 25, 2021, June 9, 2023, and July 10, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Communications, Department of Post (GDS Section), even though there was a provision of local languages for engagement in Gram Dak Sevaks, Khasi and Garo language remains as “Associate Official Language”.
According to the Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 section 4, which states, “Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 3 the Khasi language may be used as the associate official language for all purposes in the District, Sub-Divisions and Block Level Offices of the state government located in the district of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi, he further said.
Subsequently, as per notification on May 12, 2008, conferred by section 6 of the Meghalaya Language Act 2005, section 4, the Khasi language still remains as Associate Official language, whereas English still stands as the official language as per section 5 (Sub Para d), he added.
