Government to give official status to more languages

NEW DELHI: The Centre today promised to consider according official status to Kumaoni, Gharwali and other local languages and sought a recommendation from the Haryana government to give Haryanvi a similar importance.

"It is not advisable to include Gharwali and Kumanoi (in the 8th Schedule of Constitution) in isolation. It will be considered along with the demand for inclusion of other languages," Minister of State for Home Jitender Singh said winding up a debate on a private member's bill in the Lok Sabha.

He said the Centre would consider inclusion of Haryanvi in the 8th Schedule after receiving a recommendation from the state government in this regard.

Singh said that government will take a view on providing constitutional status to more languages, like Bhojpuri, after receiving a report of the UPSC committee which is examining the Mahapatra panel report that had suggested inclusion of 38 languages in the 8th Schedule.

As Haryanvi is not among the 38 languages, several members including Navin Jindal and Deepinder Singh Hooda (both Cong) pressed for providing constitutional status to Haryanvi.

Following an assurance given by the Minister, Congress member Satpal Maharaj withdrew his bill.

Earlier, participating in the discussion on the bill, members asked the Government to take steps to protect the identity of languages like Haryanvi, Rajasthani, Kumaoni and Garhwali.

Jindal (Cong) said the importance of Haryanvi should not be ignored as 4 crore people speak in this "simple and beautiful language".

Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) said Rajasthani language should also get necessary importance as almost 10 crore people speak the language.