(a) whether the Government has any plan to include Tulu language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as there has been a long standing demand for according the Eighth Schedule status for Tulu language; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether the Government has any plan to include Tulu language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as there has been a long standing demand for according the Eighth Schedule status for Tulu language; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) & (b): At present there are 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. There have been demands for inclusion of more languages including Tulu. As the evolution of dialects and languages is a dynamic process, influenced by socio-cultural, economic and political developments, it is difficult to fix any criterion for languages, whether to distinguish them from dialects, or for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. The earlier attempts, through the Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committees, to evolve such fixed criteria have been inconclusive. Government of India is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion of other languages in the Eighth Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in view these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations.
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