Agartala Feb 21: The present government has given equal importance in development of all the languages including those practiced by the indigenous people, said Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha.
The chief minister made the statement as he addressed the state-level program of International Mother Language Day at Capital City’s Town Hall here on Wednesday.
Highlighting the importance of the day, Dr Manik Saha said, “All languages have equal importance and all of them should be respected and developed. And the BJP-led government is working in that direction”.
Speaking about a few steps taken by the present government in developing the languages practiced by people belonging to various indigenous communities, Dr Saha said, “Kokborok, a major indigenous language practiced by a large number of tribes in the state has been given utmost importance. In approximately 12096 elementary schools, 115 high schools and 65 higher secondary schools, Kokborok language is taught”.
“Students from classes 1-8 are given free textbooks for Kokborok in all the schools. Also, the students pursuing the language in higher classes from 9-12 are also provided with free textbooks. An advisory committee has been formed for the development of the language. Also, a number of books for obtaining knowledge about the language have been included in the school libraries”, he added.
Dr Saha further added, “123 schools in state are teaching Chakma language till 8th standard, 24 schools impart education for Manipuri language, Bishnupriya Manipuri in 29 schools, Halam language in 90 schools, Kuki language in 15 schools, Mog language in 37 schools and 13 schools impart education for Garo language as well”.
Apart from these, the students can now write the TET and Judicial service exam in Kokborok language. All the CBSE affiliated schools of State government have also given equal importance to the language, said the chief minister.
The theme of this year’s International Mother Language Day is ‘Multilingual Education is a Pillar Learning’ and the state government is already working on that, he added.
Assistant High Commissioner Bangladesh, Arif Mohammad also shed light on the significance of this day in his speech.
He also remembered the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for upholding the mother language.
“Our mother language is our pride. Language diversity is indicative of our civilization, culture and tradition”, he said.
Earlier, the day started with a colorful procession, organized in the capital city on Wednesday morning commemorating International Mother Language Day under the initiative of State Government’s Education Department and Bangladesh Assistant High Commission.
Diplomats of the Visa Office, assistant high commission office, various departments of state government including education department, ICA department, invitees from neighboring Bangladesh in presence of the chief minister Dr Manik Saha paid floral tributes to the martyrs of the language movement who lost their lives to Pak Army on the streets of Dhaka, present capital of Bangladesh back in 1952.
Also, students from various schools of the capital city took part in the procession that started from Agartala Town Hall and traversed various routes of the capital city.