SHILLONG, JUNE 12: Oppositions on Thursday voiced the need for the state government to pressurize the centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule of the constitution.
Moving a resolution in the assembly, UDP legislator Tituswell Chyne said “We urged the government to pressurise the centre for the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution not only to get a national recognition but also protect the identity of the two tribes,”
Stating that over a million people in the state including in Barak valley in neigbouring Assam and Bangladesh speaks and write Khasi, Chyne lamented that the Bodo community with lesser population has managed to get the Bodo language included in the Eight Schedule.
Chyne said, the Khasi language has been recognized as one of major tribal languages by the Calcutta University since 1900 up to the entrance examinations, degree level in 1919 and NEHU recognized the language in its master degree, M.phil and also doctorate level. He was of the opinion that insertion of language in the Eight Schedule is the right of the people of the state.
Chyne felt the inclusion of the language will also benefit the students’ community particularly those who aspire to appear for Indian civil services exams besides opening job opportunities. He said failure of Khasi and Garo language to be included in the Eight Schedule has been to a great disadvantage to the people of the state especially when it comes to examinations conducted by central agency.
Supporting the resolution, National People’s Party (NPP) legislator James K Sangma said, “It is important to have Khasi and Garo language included in the Eight Schedule because this is the aspiration of the people of the state.”
Stating that the demand reflects that people of Meghalaya wants to have a sense of belonging in the Indian mainstream, Sangma said, “However, the state government has failed to recognize this aspiration of the people by not taking necessary initiative with the Centre.”
According to Sangma, out of the 22 languages listed in the eighth schedule, three languages are from North East which includes – Assamese, Manipuri and Bodo.
Sangma informed that the state governments of north eastern states including Nagaland, Sikkim, and others have already sent their proposals to centre for inclusion of their respective languages while Meghalaya government has fails to do so. He said, “The Garo language is also used by people living in neigbouring states and the country – Nagaland, West Bengal and even in neigbouring countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh because there is sizeable Garo population living there.”
Participating in the debate, opposition leader and UDP president Donkupar Roy suggested that the state government should take initiative in building up a strong case to convince the centre on the need to include the Khasi and Garo language in the Eight Schedule.
Stating that there are no criteria provided for the inclusion of any language in the Eight Schedule, Roy said, “The only option is to put pressure on the government of India for its consideration on the matter.”
Replying to the resolution, chief minister Mukul Sangma countered by saying that it is incorrect to say that the state government is not taking any steps as it has been pursuing with the central government on this isse.
The chief minister informed that as a result of the persistence of the state government on inclusion of the Khasi and Garo language in the Eight Schedule, the Ministry of Home Affairs has recently sought details of the Khasi language for evolving a set of uniform criteria which may pave the way for deciding inclusion of the language or otherwise in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The chief minister said, “In response to this, the state government has furnished the required information and details of the Khasi language to the MHA.”
The chief minister also informed that the ministry in its letter to the state government informed that at present 22 languages are included in Eight Schedule and demands for inclusion of 38 more languages are being considered.
The chief minister said, “The letter stated that in this regard a committee was constituted in 2003 under the chairmanship of Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve a set of objective criteria with reference to which all proposals for including more languages could be examined and finally dispose of.”
The chief minister further informed that an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the Ministry made an in-depth study of the whole gamut of the issue, including recommendations of Sitakant Mohapatra committee to suggest a set of uniform criteria on this regard and the final decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the centre.- By Our Reporter
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