a) whether it is a fact that local languages of India are disappearing due to globalisation and if
so, the details thereof, language-wise;
b) whether the Government plans to prepare an action plan on how the various Indian
languages across the country can be developed in an integrated manner; and
c) the details of other corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government to preserve local
languages?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) Yes, Sir. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
published an Atlas in 2010 that has identified 197 local languages as endangered in India the details
of which are available on https://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages.
(b) & (c) The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore under the Ministry of Human
Resource Development (Department of Higher Education) was established to coordinate the
development of Indian languages to bring about the essential unity of Indian languages through
scientific studies, promote inter-disciplinary research, contribute to mutual enrichment of languages
and thus contributes towards emotional integration of the people of India. The Scheme for Protection
and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL) was instituted by Ministry of Human Resource
Development (Government of India) through CIIL in 2013 to document and archive the country’s
languages that have become endangered or likely to be endangered in the near future. The CIIL has
already documented 117 such languages/ mother tongue in various States. In addition, University
Grants Commission (UGC) is also providing financial assistance for Creation of Centres for
Endangered Languages at Central and State Universities to undertake research projects and thereby
works towards preservation and revitalization of these languages.