NSF urges Department of Posts to include local language proficiency as a qualification for GDS in Nagaland

Kohima, 15 September (MTNews): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has commended the Ministry of Communication’s recent initiative in the Department of Posts to establish 70 new Branch Post Offices (BPOs) in Nagaland, aiming to bring essential banking and postal services closer to the state’s remote villages, thereby bolstering rural development. According to the NSF, the Department of Posts also intends to recruit a total of 173 Gramin Dak Sevaks, Branch Postmasters (BPM), and Assistant Branch Postmasters (ABPMs) to serve in these newly established BPOs.

While acknowledging these developments, the NSF has expressed significant concerns regarding the recruitment criteria set forth by the Department of Posts. According to the NSF, the draft model notification specifies Hindi or English as the local language for the engagement of Gramin Dak Sevaks in Nagaland.

While recognizing the importance of these languages, the NSF contends that this criterion may hinder opportunities for local youths. They argue that local candidates in Nagaland may face a disadvantage compared to candidates from outside the state who often have better academic proficiency in Hindi and English due to differing marking patterns. Additionally, NSF perceived that candidates from outside Nagaland may struggle to communicate effectively with the local population due to their limited knowledge of the various tribal dialects and languages spoken in the state.

They further expressed that experience has shown that many candidates from outside Nagaland either do not join or opt for transfers to their home states, undermining the effectiveness of the newly established BPOs. “During the 2020-21 recruitment cycle, only 29 out of 55 selected candidates joined, and several of them subsequently resigned or exercised their transfer option. This trend threatens to undermine the vital services that these BPOs aim to provide to the people of Nagaland,” the NSF stated.

In response to these concerns, the NSF has urged the Department of Postal Services to consider amending the draft model notification. They have requested the inclusion of “Proficiency in any of the local dialects of Nagaland as an additional qualification,” alongside Hindi and English, for the engagement of Gramin Dak Sevaks in Nagaland.