CTLLSM hails
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2024: The Council of Tribal Languages and Literature Societies, Manipur (CTLLSM) has announced that it "feels truly heartening to know that the Government of India has allocated a fund of Rs 18 crore as the first instalment for conservation and promotion of Meiteilon (Manipuri)" and expressed hope that it will boost the efforts to elevate the Meiteilon (Manipuri) to the status of a classical language sooner, reports NNN.

The Council of Tribal Languages and Literature Societies, Manipur (CTLLSM) represents the 35 tribal languages out of the total 37 languages in Manipur and it stands for unity and integrity of Manipur and remains in solidarity with the State Government, it informed.

"Meiteilon, commonly known as Manipuri, is the official language, the lingua franca and most widely spoken language of Manipur and one of the 22 Scheduled Languages of India and we all are proud of the language," CTLLSM chairman Ragongning Gangmei said in a statement today.

"Meiteilon (Manipuri) is the closest neighbouring language towering above the tribal languages of Manipur with many similarities in the meanings of words, structures of sentences and grammatical systems unlike that of English language.

And we are optimistic and hopeful that the Meiteilon (Manipuri) shall be a guiding principal language for the upliftment of all the tribal languages of the State", the CTLLSM added.

It said, "Our heartfelt thanks go to the Chief Minister and also our special thanks to Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, MP, who is relentlessly making efforts for promotion of Meiteilon (Manipuri)" it lauded.

It then mentioned that two Manipur language programmes were implemented.

They are - 8 languages (1 Meiteilon and 7 tribal languages) were taught to people of non-speakers of these 8 languages to promote inter-community communicative relationship among the linguistic communities of Manipur; and compilation of one merged dictionary of 20 languages (English, Manipuri and 18 approved tribal languages of Manipur) .

This will help the linguistic communities to search and check each other's languages, especially words at a fingertip and boost the closeness of the inter-community relationship, the CTLLSM said.

Besides Meiteilon (Manipuri), there are 35 tribal languages and there are certain serious sad facts about tribal languages in Manipur which are damaging the fabric of Manipur integrity.

"Here lies the crux of the grievances faced by the tribal languages.

When these languages are approved, necessary funds are supposed to be allocated under plan, non-plan, recurring and nonrecurring and responsibility fixed to certain department(s) for development and continuation of these mother tongues in the school education system.

But neither fund was allocated at all for them nor responsibility was fixed at the time of approval of these languages.

So, the literature societies of tribal languages are running from pillar to post seeking financial support for development and printing of school text books of their mother tongues education every year till today," it rued.

The grievances faced by the tribal languages had been brought to the notice of the State Government several times since the past many years by the Council of Tribal Languages, Manipur (CTLLSM), it stated.

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