Morung Express News
Kohima | March 4
During the Zero Hour of the ongoing sixth session of the 14th Nagaland Assembly of the second day, postal job losses by indigenous people were brought up.
Bringing the issue, MLA, Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso raised concerns over the dwindling employment opportunities for indigenous Nagas in the postal service, particularly in the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) positions.
Citing recruitment data from January 2023, he informed the House that 70 new Branch Post Offices (BOs) were created in Nagaland with a total of 157 new posts (Grade-IV) were allotted for Nagaland Postal Division. Out of the total 157 newly created posts, around 123 posts were filled up while the 34 posts remained vacant and were later advertised in 2024 with a total of 108 posts.
Dr Rhutso pointed out that the recruitment process for GDS posts is conducted online at an all-India level, with the only eligibility criteria being a Class 10 pass certificate where selections are based purely on academic merit, without any exams or interviews.
However, he noted that owing to lack of a recognised common language in the state has put local candidates at a disadvantage depriving the youth of job opportunities, while states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have recognised their common languages.
He cited the example of Arunachal Pradesh, which issued a gazette notification recognizing all its 23 tribal languages for recruitment purposes further pursuing with the Ministry of Communication who approved a policy change that restricts GDS recruitment in Arunachal Pradesh to indigenous candidates only.
The MLA suggested that Nagaland needs to follow exactly what the neighbouring AP did so that GDS vacancies in Nagaland Postal Division are filled up by indigenous Nagas only.
to December 2024, he revealed that out of 361 advertised GDS vacancies, 90% were filled by non-indigenous candidates. Nagaland, he informed has 365 Branch Post Offices (BPOs) with 1,047 sanctioned GDS posts, but most of these positions are now occupied by non-locals due to the state’s open-language policy.
Backing the proposal, MLA Achumbemo Kikon emphasised that GDS positions, despite being categorized as low-grade jobs, offer a sustainable monthly salary comparable to that of a Lower Divisional Clerk.
He also raised concerns over the state’s conservative marking system in high school examinations, which puts local students at a disadvantage against candidates from other states where grading is more lenient.
“Even if our boys and girls apply, they don’t get the opportunity” due to lower grades stated Kikon. He suggested that a proper resolution in the form of Cabinet is required to convey to the Ministry.
Meanwhile Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio appreciating the members for bringing the recruitment in the postal service acknowledged that despite many posts being advertised, the state is deprived because the third language is not officially notified.
“So may I request our speaker to give a suitable time in this session so that we can formally discuss and pass a required resolution for the benefit of our people” stated Rio.
