MLA Dr. Rhutso calls for recognition of tribal languages to
MLA Dr. Rhutso calls for recognition of tribal languages to boost employment opportunities
Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, on Tuesday underscored the need to recognise Nagaland’s tribal languages to create better employment opportunities for Naga youth in Postal department.
KOHIMA — Member
of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, on Tuesday
underscored the need to recognise Nagaland’s tribal languages to create better
employment opportunities for Naga youth in Postal department.
Initiating a discussion during zero hour on the second day
of the sixth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), he
pointed out that many Nagas were losing job opportunities in the Postal
department due to absence of a recognised common language in the state.
The legislator explained that recruitment for the department
is conducted online on an all-India basis with a minimum qualification of Class
10, wherein candidates must submit their details through the website and
selection is based purely on Class 10 mark sheets—without any exams or
interviews.
He emphasised that Nagas were being deprived of jobs in the
lowest-grade postal service known as Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) because the state
does not have a recognised common language. He noted that while Nagaland has 17
recognised tribal languages, none have been designated as the state’s common
language, unlike other northeastern states such as Manipur (Meitei), Assam
(Assamese), Meghalaya (Khasi and Garo), Tripura (Bengali) and Mizoram (Mizo).
Dr. Rhutso further highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh faces
a similar issue as it has 23 tribal languages without a recognised common
language. However, the Arunachal Pradesh government recently addressed this by
issuing a gazette notification recognising all 23 tribal languages for
recruitment purposes. This was followed by a directive from the Ministry of
Communications, ensuring that only indigenous candidates of Arunachal Pradesh
could apply for GDS vacancies in the state.
He pointed out that Nagaland has 365 branch post offices
(BPOs) with 1,047 sanctioned GDS posts. However, due to the current recruitment
process, more than 90% of those vacancies are being filled by non-indigenous
candidates. Between January 2023 and December 2024, out of 361 GDS vacancies
advertised, 90% were occupied by non-local candidates, he alleged.
He urged the Nagaland government to adopt the Arunachal
model and pass a resolution recognising tribal languages for recruitment by
ensuring that GDS vacancies are reserved for indigenous Nagas. He also suggested
that deputy commissioners should serve as certifying authorities for
proficiency in local languages in their respective districts.
Supporting the motion, NPF MLA, Achumbemo Kikon, in his
supplementary statement, noted that the advertised GDS posts offer a salary of
INR 10,000 scale pay—comparable to a lower divisional clerk (LDA) in state
government service.
However, he pointed out that the lack of recognition for
local languages in Nagaland was a significant barrier to employment. He
criticised the state's conservative marking system in matriculation, which
disadvantages local candidates in merit-based recruitment.
Kikon further observed that many non-local appointees were
transfer out after securing the post, leading to frequent re-advertisements. He
stressed the need for a language policy aligned with the New Education Policy’s
third-language provision to ensure that those appointed to GDS posts are
proficient in the local language.
Nagaland Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, has appreciated
Dr. Rhutso for raising the issue and acknowledged the employment challenges
faced by Naga youth due to the absence of a recognised third language. He
requested the Speaker to allocate time in the ongoing session to discuss and
pass a resolution addressing the matter.
