Question : Promotion of Telugu Language

(a) the steps taken to promote, propagate and spread Telugu language after it was declared as a Classical Language in 2008; (b) the details of funds allocated, sanctioned, released and spent on Telugu language since 2008, year-wise; (c) the details of physical targets set after declaring Telugu as classical language and achieved, year-wise; (d) whether it is also true that not more than Rs. 1 crore is given each year for Telugu and Kannada language promotion, propagation, spread, etc., since 2014-15, when compared to Tamil language which was given Rs. 50 crores between 2014-15 and 2019-20; and (e) the reasons for such discrimination and steps being taken to provide more funds for Telugu and Kannada classical languages?

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c): Consequent upon declaration of Telugu language as Classical Language, Government of India has established a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu in Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL),
-2-
Mysore in 2011. This centre was shifted to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh during the year 2019 from Mysore. The activities of the centre is to do research, documentation, and propagation of the classical language. This includes identification of sources of classical language, procure manuscripts, undertake digitization and publish books related to Classical Telugu. Awards are given to reputed Telugu scholars for their achievements in Classical Telugu. The following grants have been given to CIIL, Mysore for promotion of Classical Telugu language since 2015.
(in rupees)
Year
Amount allocated
Expenditure
2015-16
1,00,00,000
19,47,450
2016-17
1,00,00,000
4,70,000
2017-18
1,00,00,000
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2018-19
99,00,000
28,90,787
2019-20
1,07,00,000
75,12,457
2020-21
1,47,00,000
1,10,16,383
2021-22
1,03,15,000
22,33,968 *
*till June-2021
(d) & (e): The grants are given to language institutions as per their requirement and on need based as per their utilisation. Government’s policy is to promote all Indian languages including Classical languages and there is no discrimination against any language.
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