Editor,
There is an invasion from the other parts of the country in every sector, be it business, entrepreneurship, service, educational institutes, etc, just because of their dominance over our tribal population through language hegemony.
To address this challenge, our authorities and government must use the tool of the ‘imposition of language’ in our job recruitment in the first phase. By making knowledge and proficiency in one’s mother tongue or one of the languages among 26 major tribes of the state compulsory to avail of government jobs in the state. And those who were recruited earlier or already in the job should be provided a course on language proficiency in their respective place of posting, like a Galo, Adi, or even non-tribal employee serving in Kurung Kumey must be able to communicate in Nyishi, especially the public servants, and vice versa.
Here it is noteworthy that many states in India have already implemented the criteria of local language in the states’ job recruitment process. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar already have a compulsory component of the Hindi language that candidates have to qualify. Other states, including Punjab, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana too have similar provisions where candidates need to be fluent in the regional language. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu government in December 2021 made Tamil language proficiency compulsory for entry to state government services and state-run public sector enterprises, and a pass in the subject is the basic qualifying norm for entry to these services.
By the same token, Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee pushed for ensuring government jobs for domicile residents in the state. While implementing she urged every state government to give preference to the local population and domicile residents.
The imposition of language criteria is complicated but it is a kind of win-win situation for us which will protect our endangered tribal language as well as ensure that our local youths have an upper edge in the job recruitment process within the state.
At a time of shrinking resources, lesser government jobs, and large-scale unemployment of local youths in the state, this move will certainly act as a protective layer for the locals. This move might encourage the ‘us vs them’ ideology but it is a prerequisite now, considering the challenges ahead of us.
Yiri Kamcham,
Kamcham,
Lower Siang