Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of steps taken by Indian Embassies situated abroad for propagation of Hindi Language during the last three years;
(b) whether the Government has taken any decision for setting up cultural centres abroad;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any financial assistance is provided by the Government for promoting/teaching of Hindi language in foreign universities; and
(e) if so, the details in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) Indian Missions/ Embassies abroad are extension of MEA and ICCR to implement their mandate overseas. As far as propagation of Hindi language abroad is concerned:
I. Indian Missions have been instrumental in negotiating terms with the Universities abroad for establishing Hindi Chair and signing of the MoU for the same. ICCR established 20 Hindi Chairs till 2015. Following announcement at the International Hindi Conference in September 2015, to establish 20 additional Chairs, 04 have been so far and MOUs with 04 other Universities have been finalized.
II. In addition to the Chairs, Hindi teachers are deployed in 37 Culture Centres of ICCR overseas. At present there are Hindi teachers deployed in 21 of them and process of deploying to others is on.
III. Indian Missions ensure annual Celebration of Hindi Day and “Hindi Pakhwara (????????????)” on a regular basis carrying out variety of activities to promote and encourage use of Hindi language.
IV. Indian Culture Centre in Moscow has established Baatcheet (??????) Club to encourage learning “spoken and communicative language”.
V. This year Missions in Fiji and Azerbaijan were instrumental in finalizing the MoU for establishing of Hindi Centre in the University of South Pacific and Azerbaijan University of Languages respectively.
VI. Missions in South Korea, USA, Paris, Thailand, Russia and Mauritius played a key role in organizing Conferences and Seminars on promotion of Hindi language.
VII. Missions in UK and Kenya organized massive Kavisammellans in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. ICCR encourages Culture Centres and all the Missions to organize Hindi KaviSammellans and cultural programmes on regular basis.
(b) Yes.
(c) At present ICCR has 37 Indian Culture Centres running in various countries. In addition to these, centres are being established in Washington and Paris; and Lagos, Singapore, Toronto and Buenos Aires are cities where establishing new Centres is being considered.
(d) Yes.
(e) ICCR has allocated a total of Rs. 4 Crores for promotion of Hindi language through its various activities in the Indian Missions and Culture Centres. The activities include – (i) establishing of new chairs; (ii) maintenance of existing Chairs; (iii) deployment of Hindi teachers in Centres and Missions; (iv) organizing and participation at the conferences, seminars, cultural programmes, kavisammellans, literary and Book festivals, bringing out publications, supporting translations and Hindi Day celebrations….