‘No language must go extinct’

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IMPHAL, February 21: The UNESCO International Mother Language Day 2016 was also observed at Manipur Press Club today jointly organized by Tribal and Endanger Language Promotion Board, Department of English Oriental College and UNESCO Manipur Unit.

Speaking to the media, former Chief Resource Person, Centre for Tribal & Endangered Language (Language Bureau), Ministry of HRD, Dr Th Chandramani said that due to lack of Language Research Centre in both hills and plain, there is a threat to the language and dialect of Manipur.

Even though in the State we have the availability of Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, the organizers create their own preferred language policies which are not effective, he alleged.

He further alleged that the State fails to take up any programme for the development, in spite of the chief minister having announced a research centre would be set up in one of the hill districts for the protection and promotion of different languages, and he added however till date this has not fructified.

On the aim of promoting, preserving and protecting the endanger languages and dialects of Manipur the UNESCO International Mother Language Day is being observed, he stated.

He highlighted that Manipuri itself is listed as endangered but there are many other languages in Manipur which are also endangered. As per record of usage data, dialects which may become extinct are in Aimol, spoken by 2400, Tarao by 700, Purum- by 276, Moyon by 2270, Monsang by 1270 and some more.

Individuals of every community need to use their own language or dialect for their promotion, he said and added several steps are being taken up to promote, preserve and protect these languages.

The ‘Scheme for Protection and Promotion of Endangered Languages’ (SPPEL) was launched under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, he stated.

He further said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has also announced the list of endangered languages in the country. It identified 192 languages as endangered in India as it has Manipuri in the list.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju have asserted that all possible steps will be taken up for the promotion of languages of North Eastern States.

As part of the observation the International Mother Language Day was observed at Dave Literature Centre organized by Sahitya Toupang Lup.

During the function Sui Generis Mother Language Award was conferred to Chanam Hemchandra sponsored by Sui Generis Company.

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