Nagaland’s Lok Sabha MP, Supongmeren Jamir, has written to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio requesting the official recognition of tribal dialects spoken in Nagaland as ‘third language’ for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) recruitment in the Department of Posts.
In a letter referencing earlier correspondences (D.O. No. CMN/71 (A) IT & C/2023 dated May 24, 2023 and No. NL/MP/LS/COS-3/2024-25 dated October 18, 2024), Jamir raised concern over the “engagement of non-local Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) in Post Offices of the North Eastern region including the state of Nagaland.”
Highlighting the limitations of the current recruitment system, Jamir noted that “the Grade IV staff GDS recruitment in the Postal Department is online-based with requirement of Class X pass certificate and marksheet, without any interviews or exams being conducted.” He pointed out that the Department of Posts, in its notification No.17-02/2025-GDS, has prescribed English and Hindi as qualifying languages for Nagaland, overlooking other local dialects that candidates may be fluent in.
“This undermines the third dialect/language that candidates would have otherwise studied or are fluent in beside these two languages,” he wrote. “Additionally, this impacts the performance of local candidates when they compete nationwide.”
In just two years, Nagaland has seen three rounds of GDS recruitment for 364 posts, including a special drive in January 2023 that advertised 143 posts for the state.
Citing the 18th Lok Sabha Standing Committee’s observations on the Department of Posts, Jamir said the Director General of GDS had agreed in principle to engage with the state government to identify local dialects/languages for recruitment assessment. This was communicated by the Director of Postal Services, Nagaland, to the Home Commissioner via letter No. A-1/GDS BPM/Vacancy/NL-II dated April 16, 2025.
Jamir noted that under the Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, the Home Department of Nagaland officially recognizes 15 tribes along with the Kachari, Kuki, Garo, and Mikir tribes, and has recently recognized the Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe. However, “the state government is yet to officially recognize the dialects/languages of these tribes for the purpose of a third language/dialect in the state.”
To address this gap, the Home Department has written to the Commissioner and the Commissioner & Secretary of Art & Culture to submit their comments.
Jamir cited the example of Arunachal Pradesh, which faced a similar challenge and resolved it by officially recognizing 23 tribal dialects as ‘third language’ for GDS recruitment. Arunachal informed the Director General of Postal Services via letter No.SJETA-16015/10/2023/135/409, leading to a five-year special provision allowing recruitment assessments in those languages (No.17-11/2019-GDS and 17-02/2025-GDS).
The MP added that in Arunachal, “proficiency in the tribal dialect/language is to be issued a certification by the concerned Deputy Commissioner or any other officer authorized in the State Government,” since these dialects are not taught up to Class X in schools.
“In this regard, I would like to request your office to take kind action through the concerned department in issuing the recognition of the tribal dialects/languages spoken in the state as ‘third language’,” Jamir wrote. “I look forward to your timely action on this matter which would create employment among the youths in the state.”
