The Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) has suggested the Ministry of Communication to prescribe knowledge of languages of any of the three major tribes of Meghalaya for appointment of Gramin Dak Sevaks in the State.
According to the FKJGP the Department of Posts will recruit 445 Gramin Dak Sevaks, Branch Post Masters and Assistant Branch Post Masters for posting in post offices across the State.
As per the draft model notification of the department, Hindi or English are the prescribed local language as criteria for the recruitment. The organisation said this will deprive the chances of local youth to avail this employment opportunity as· they have to compete with candidates from outside the State who normally score better in these languages especially Hindi.
“In the past out of several candidates for Gramin Dak Sevaks who are selected from outside the State, only few chose to join their postings in Meghalaya and later opted for transfer to their respective home states owing to remoteness, tough geographical terrain and language problem in Meghalaya particularly in remote villages. As such, the very purpose of opening Branch Post Offices in the remote villages in Meghalaya gets defeated and the employment opportunity for local youth gets closed,” FKJGP President Dundee C. Khongsit said.
The FKJGP has also written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma seeking his timely intervention to urge the ministry to amend the draft model notification as the recruitment process for the posts is likely to commence soon.
