Govt urged to back Manipuri language movement in Assam
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 14 2022:
Manipuri Youths' Front, Assam (MYFA) has urged the Manipur government to pressurise Assam government for recognising Manipuri language as one of the associate official languages of Assam state so that Manipuris living in the neighbouring state could get benefit as well.
MYFA advisor Seram Her-ajit told media persons at Manipur Press Club, here, on Monday that Assam is the state where Manipuri is spoken vastly after Manipur and accordingly launched a movement to protect the language.
Since the year 2020, MYFA along with other organisations have been urging Assam government to recognise Manipuri as one of the associate official languages but no positive action has been taken so far.
Though Assam government accepts Manipuris settling in the state as indigenes, no benefit has been extended till date, but rather suppressive tactics are being applied, Herajit said.
According to Herajit, Assam government issued a gazette notification on May 26, 2020 making Assamese, Bengali and Bodo languages mandatory for government job recruitment.
MYFA along with other organisations protested against Assam government's decision as Manipuri language became a curriculum medium at lower primary level in the state from 1956 and then to high school level and matriculation from 1976.In 1997, Manipuri department was opened at Assam University, Silchar as well as in 13 graduate colleges of Assam thereby allowing study on the language till MA and PhD level.
However, students who completed graduation/MA in Manipuri would not be able to join job recruitment in Assam as per the existing norms.
Apart from this, students, who opt for Manipuri as first language, have to now compete in Assamese or Bengali in UPSC and other central government job recruitment exams, Herajit said.
He further said that a delegation of MYFA delegation came to Manipur to meet chief minister N Biren but is unable to meet so far as the CM is too busy for the upcoming Manipur Sangai Festival.
However, a memorandum has been submitted seeking support from Manipur government to the movement being launched in Assam to recognise Manipuri as one of the associate official languages of Assam.
The memorandum also urged Manipur government to mount pressure on Assam government to implement Meetei Mayek currently studied in educational institutions of Manipur in Assam.