(a) whether the Government has formulated any plan for
the development of tribal languages like Santhali, Mundari,
Ho and Kurankh etc.;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor including the reasons
for not including these languages in the Eighth Schedule
of the Constitution of India?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b) Santhali language was included in the Curriculum
of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore,
a subordinate office of the Ministry of Human Resource Development
by way of teaching Santhali to the non-Santhali speakers. Side by
side, development of teaching materials and research on the
languages were also taken up by the CIIL.
Mundari, Ho and Kurukh are covered by the Centre for Tribal and
Endangered Languages in CIIL. Primers, Dictionaries, Grammers
and Materials for teaching the primary level were developed by the CIIL.
(c) Santhali Language has already been included in the Eighth
Schedule to the Constitution of India. A Committee was constituted
in 2003 under the Chairmanship of Shri Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve
a set of objective criteria with reference to which all
proposals/representations for inclusion of more languages
in the Eighth Schedule could be examined and finally disposed
of. The Committee submitted its report and made certain recommendations.
In a reference, Department of Personnel & Training has informed that
UPSC is already facing problems in conducting the examinations in some
of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule and they have
constituted a High Level Standing committee to examine the modalities
for implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Resolution
in a manner consistent with the high standards of UPSC, for the existing
languages in the Eighth Schedule. In view of this, it has been decided
to await the report of the High Level Standing Committee and Government
decision to be taken thereon after which a fresh assessment of the demands
of inclusion of more languages including Mundari, Ho and Kurak will be made
and a decision on Dr. Sitakant Mohapatra Committee’s Report taken.