In a letter addressed to Dr Lorho S Pfoze, MP (LS), Outer Manipur, Parliamentary Constituency, MoS for finance Dr Bhagwan Karad in response to the MP’s letter of May 2021 stated that the matter to give Manipuri and English as optional languages as option for SBI recruitment of junior associates has been taken up with the SBI.
“The bank has informed that from the recruitment year 2022-2023, options for both English and Manipuri will be there in recruitment of junior associates”, informed Dr Bhagwan.
Dr Lorho in his letter to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had appealed for the removal of mandatory Manipuri language in the SBI recruitment notice/guidelines in Manipur state, pointing out “the discrepancies felt among the tribal people of the state of Manipur.”
In his letter he had reiterated that “Manipur is inhabited by various ethnic groups with diverse cultural and linguistic practices and the state has gone through turbulent times in the past over these issues”, and the education system does not mandate Manipuri language in the state.
“Making Manipuri a mandatory language for recruitment is not justifiable”, he had written.
He further had added that a necessary directive be given to broaden the recruitment area to provide opportunity to all the ethnic groups within the state and give Manipuri and English as optional languages for the candidates.
Also read: ATSUM lodges complaint against making Manipuri language mandatory for SBI recruitment
Dr Lorho said he was pleased to inform that English is now included as an option in recruitments done by the State Bank of India (SBI).
Expressing his gratitude to the minister for looking into the matter judiciously, Dr Lorho thanked Dr Bhagwat Kharad, MoS for Finance for the keen follow up. He also mentioned his gratefulness to Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairperson, State Bank of India for considering the matter in great earnest and making this change possible.
“I am hopeful other recruitments in banking sectors or recruitments from other departments will follow suit wherever necessary to give a wholesome development to the country. Sending my best wishes to all the aspirants! Never stop believing in yourself”. Dr Lorho said.
It may be mentioned that the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has lodged a complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) “against non-inclusion of Scheduled Tribes languages of Manipur in the Test of Specified opted local language in the Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) of State Bank of India (SBI) advertised on April 27, 2021 vide Advertisement No.CRPD/CR/2021-22/09”.