“Inadequate budget to develop tribal languages beyond a point”

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 23

Organised by Council of Tribal Languages and Literature Societies, Manipur (CTLLSM), Tribal Languages day was observed today at the conference hall of Tribal Research Institute (TRI).

MLA of Phungyar constituency, K. Leishiyo attended the function as chief guest. He put forward the importance of language and said that there is not enough financial allocation made by the state government to develop tribal languages beyond a certain level.     

He noted that there are more than 36 tribes in the state and each tribe speaks different language. He also noted that within a language itself there are also variations. For instance, there are variations of accent in the same language spoken every 10-20 km, he pointed out.

“There are 29 recognised languages and out of which 18 languages are recognised by the state government to be taught in schools. And these are not even properly developed to a ‘literary’ level”, Leishiyo said.

Though there is a separate budget for tribal languages development in the present state government, this is inadequate to develop them to a ‘literary’ level, he reiterated.

He gave assurance that he himself as a tribal will give his best effort to develop tribal languages of the state. 

He also lamented that language development should not be only from government’s side but advised that young generation should especially give interest for their betterment and preservation of their language.

The observation was attended by representatives from every tribe speaking different languages in the state.

The first Tribal Languages day was observed in November 4, 2014, also funded by TRI. The day commemorates the importance of mother tongue.

Ragongning Gangmei, chairman of CTLLSM giving keynote address said that the main aim of organising this day is to maintain an equal footing of every language of the state, be it tribal or Manipuri and to preserve, promote and develop mother tongue of every languages.

He asserted that language is a community’s soul, identity, pride, future and unity.

Director of language planning and implementation department, M. Mahavir Singh also attended the function as special guest of the function.