Language fees
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 28 2014:
The Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM) is charging Rs 15,000 as "language and visiting fees" from schools or institutions which want to introduce tribal languages as subjects, according to Council of Tribal Literature Societies, Manipur (CTLSM) .
A statement of the council said that because of the large amount of fees charged by COHSEM for offering tribal languages as subjects, many schools have been discouraged and tribal students are being denied of their own mother tongues.
It said the 34 tribal languages need funds to the tune of Rs 289.70 lakh per annum but there is no fund allocation for these languages in the State budget.
On this matter, the council has submitted several representations to the State Government which has failed to show concern to the issue till date, it said.
Linguistic racism in the State is clearly seen and such acts have suppressed and ruined the cherished hope and vision of the tribal people besides weakening the spirit of belongingness, the statement said.
It said 'linguicism' against tribal languages is rampant in Manipur.
COHSEM is charging Rs 15,000 as language and visiting fees from schools which want to introduce tribal languages as subjects and because of such practices many schools have been discouraged and tribal students are being denied their own mother tongues, it said.