Morcha urges CM to 'extend' language provision in recruitment process

SNS, DARJEELING, 19 JULY 21; The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, along with its youth front, has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding extension of the language provision in state government recruitment processes, especially in the case for recruitment of Sub-Inspectors in the Kolkata Police.

"This is in reference to advertisements in connection with recruitment to the post of SI (unarmed Branch) and Seargent in Kolkata Police. There are many youths from Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills as well as from the Terai and D
ooars region, along with other parts of the state, who aspire to serve as public servants in the Government machinery, but the notification allows absolution only to candidates front Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the language provision," Morcha leader Bimal Gurung has said in the letter.

"The notification states that applicants must be able to speak, read and write in Bengali, except for those candidates who are permanent residents of hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, while not extending the same to candidates from other regions of the state. This would only deprive many candidates with huge potential from the Terai, Dooars, and other regions, with zeal to serve in public services under the state," Mr Gurung added. He has requested the CM to extend language relaxation provision linden he terms and conditions of the recruitment process so that youths from other regions of the state with Nepali as their mother tongue can also be given a choice in the language.

On the other hand, in the letter to the CM by their youth front, President Prakash Gurung states, "The notification though allows a reprieve from knowledge of Bengali to candidates from Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, it does not apply to candidates from the rest of West Bengal. This would deprive the Nepali-speaking candidates from other areas."

Requesting the CM to allow Nepali speaking aspirants across Bengal be permitted a choice to write the exams in their mother tongue, the letter also maintains that it has been a long standing wish of the WBCS aspirants to write the exams in their mother tongue.

"I would also like to inquest you to kindly include Nepali as one of the optional subjects in the WBCS Mains exams," the youth leader said. The Morcha leader has also written to the Department of Education and Science & Technology minister Bratya Basu, requesting recruitment of primary and upper primary school teachers in the GTA region.

"The District Primary School Board of Darjeeling conducted a TET examination on 14 February 2021 without permission of the government and without following proper norms of the NCTE, wherein about 15,000 candidates had appeared. The GTA under the leadership of the then Chairman Anit Thapa has done huge injustice to the innocent aspiring candidates who are now confused and desperate," said Mr Gurung, while also demanding investigations into the matter.

It further states that the recruitment of primary school teachers in the GTA region was last conducted in the year 2012 out of the interview held in the year 2002, except for regularisation of 123 volunteer teachers in 2018.

"More than 656 vacancies are lying unfilled in primary schools here only The placement in upper primary schools is yet to be initiated," said Mr Gurung.