(a) whether a software institute C-DAC has developed a new technique of teaching Hindi through computer in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Ministry has developed this software;
(d) the number of languages this software would be able to teach;
(e) whether this software would be developed by the Government or by any private company; and
(f) the time by which the said software would be available inthe market for the use of common men?
MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a): Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune, an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Information Technology has developed a software called Learn Indian Languages(LILA) through Artificial Intelligence for self learning of Indian languages using computer.
(b): The details of the software are at Annexure.
(c): The aforesaid software was developed under the project sponsored by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.
(d): Currently this package caters for Hindi language only.
(e) and (f): LILA-Hindi Prabodh software package has already been developed by C-DAC and was released on the occasion of the Golden Jubliee Celebration of Hindi Rajy Bhasha in September, 1999. This software package is now being marketed. Work on advanced level learning packages (i.e. Praveen and Pragya) is in progress.