Approve Mising, Rabha, Tiwa, Deuri, and Dimasa as mediums of instruction up to grade 5: ITSSA
The Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha, Assam (ITSSA) has raised the demand for the State Cabinet to approve the introduction of Mising, Rabha, Tiwa, Deuri, and Dimasa mother tongues as mediums of instruction up to Grade 5
‘Make Karbi the medium of instruction up to grade 8’
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha, Assam (ITSSA) has raised the demand for the State Cabinet to approve the introduction of Mising, Rabha, Tiwa, Deuri, and Dimasa mother tongues as mediums of instruction up to Grade 5, and Karbi mother tongues up to Grade 8, as per provisions of the Indian Constitution, the Right to Education Act, 2009, and the NEP-2020. They also demanded that the governor's notification follow Cabinet approval.
In its emergent executive council meeting in Guwahati, the ITSSA has decided to resort to a Rajbhawan Challo programme if the state Cabinet does not approve their demand by January 31, 2024.
ITSSA President Gobindo Taid presided over the meeting. The meeting discussed in detail the New Delhi programme of ITSSA made from July 20 to July 26, 2023, during which a representation containing various demands of ITSSA was submitted to the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Home Minister of India, the Tribal Affairs Minister of India, and the Minister of Ayus, Shipping, and Ports of India, Sarbananda Sonowal. The meeting expressed its gratitude to the President of India for giving direction to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on August 8, 2023, and for taking the necessary steps for the fulfilment of the demands of ITTSA. The meeting also expressed its gratitude to the aforementioned Union ministers for giving directions to the Chief Secretary of Assam on August 11, 2023, and the Principal Secretary of WPT, Assam, on August 10, 2023, for taking the necessary steps for the fulfilment of the demands of ITSSA.
In spite of all these and also even after making announcements on several occasions by Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and Education Minister Dr. Ronuj Pegu, no concrete steps by way of making Cabinet approval followed by Governor Notification to introduce Mising, Rabha, Tiwa, Deuri, and Dimasa mother tongue as medium of instruction up to Grade 5 and Karbi mother tongue up to Grade 8, as per provisions of the Indian Constitution, Right to Education Act, 2009, and the NEP-2020, have been taken up to date, the speakers at the meeting said. The meeting expressed its great concern for such a lackadaisical attitude of the Government of Assam on a sensitive issue of tribal languages of both Plains Tribes and Hills Tribes of Assam and resolved to take an agitational programme in the form of 'Raj Bhawan Chalo', in case Cabinet approval is not made within January 31. The meeting also resolved that even after the 'Raj Bhawan Chalo', if its demand is not fulfilled, it will send an eight-member team to New Delhi to meet the President of India and the Union ministers concerned.
The meeting decided to appeal to the State Chief Minister again to take necessary steps for the release of the unutilized fund of Rs. 1.29 crore under Bhasha Gaurav Asoni in favour of ITSSA for the publication of the Multilingual Dictionary compiled in eleven languages, including Assamese, Hindi, and English, in addition to the eight tribal languages of its members.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Mising Sahitya Sabha, Karbi Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Deuri Sahitya Sabha, Garo Sahitya Sabha, and Rabha Sahitya Sabha.
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