Shillong, Aug 14: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Wednesday sought the intervention of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to notify Khasi language as an official language in order to pave 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 concerned to amend the Khasi, Garo language by notifying under the Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 section 6 as an official language as stated, so as to enables 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. 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,” HSPDP president KP Pangniang said in a memorandum submitted to Sangma during a meeting held here.

He said that according to the findings of the party, 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 the local languages. The problem of communication has led to difficulties and misunderstanding, delay and hampered 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 that the issue to recruit 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 Hindi language was taken into accounts to qualify on their behalf,” he said while adding “Whereas, our people or permanent residents of Meghalaya were subjected only to the English language in order of merits to qualify, since 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 languages still remain 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.

Subsequently, as per notification dated May 12, 2008 conferred by section 6 of the Meghalaya Language Act 2005, section 4, 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.

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