List Manipuri as associate official language in Assam: Ranjan in LS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20 2020:
Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan, while lauding the decision of the Centre to conduct recruitment examination by the National Recruitment Agency in all the languages included in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, sought attention of the House during zero hour today to recognise Manipuri language as an associate official language of Assam.
Expressing "deep concern" with regard to the Bill passed by the Assam State Assembly which introduced Assamese as a subject in all the educational institutions in Assam from Class I to X, Dr Ranjan said that the Manipuri language should be declared as an associate official language of Assam in compliance with Article 347, a special provision which provides for recognition of a language spoken by a section of the population of a State to be officially recognised throughout the State or any part thereof.
According to the Assam Gazette Extraordinary notification of April 16, 1985, Schedule Section 5A, the Bodo language has been used as an associated official language in Assam but left out Manipuri language.
Regarding recruitments conducted by the Assam Public Services Commission (APSC), Dr Ranjan stated that the Government of Assam has made it mandatory for candidates to write only in Assamese, Bodo or Bengali without providing any alternative language for those who learned other languages like Manipuri in the State of Assam right from Primary level to school level.
He urged the Centre to include Manipuri language as an associate official language in Assam and amend the Assam Public Service Commission's Rules so that lakhs of Manipuris in the State (Assam) may get equal opportunity of getting jobs.
During the zero hour, Dr Ranjan appreciated Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry DoNER for his approval for conducting the common eligibility test by the National Recruitment Agency in all the languages included in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution.
Dr Ranjan said that the move will help candidates from different parts of the country appear in the examination in the languages they are comfortable with.