More than a year after the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) pushed for the Union Ministry of Communication to amend the draft model notification of the Department of Posts for engaging Gramin Dak Sevaks in Meghalaya, Khasi and Garo candidates applying for the posts can now write the exam in their own languages.
FKJGP president Dundee C Khongsit informed that last year the Department of Posts decided to recruit 445 Gramin Dak Sevaks (rural postal workers), Branch Post Masters and Assistant Branch Post Masters for vacancies around Meghalaya but the exam could be taken only in English or Hindi. This meant that most of the posts were awarded to people from outside the state but they found getting accommodation a challenge and their appointments went unfilled.
“These posts became vacant again and had to be readvertised. This year the number of posts has gone up to 683,” Khongsit informed.
The FKJGP president also informed that in the coming days, the pressure group will meet the state government to urge it to direct all central government offices to conduct exams in local languages for posts where the locals are capable.