A CORRESPPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said that all parents should communicate with their children in their respective local languages and also educate their children on the importance of local culture and tradition so as to enable them to reconnect with family and society.
Addressing the people during Indigenous Faith Day (IFD) celebration at Directorate of Indigenous Affairs (DIA), Chimpu here on Tuesday, Khandu said that preserving local language, tradition and cultural roots is an individual responsibility.
He added that the State is facing the highest threat of 'endangered languages'. The people need to start communicating in their respective languages at home besides encouraging Hindi and English language, he added.
"When the local language is lost, it impacts the loss of culture and tradition too. Therefore, each individual should shoulder this responsibility. We should try to sustain the identity which has been passed upon us by our forefathers," he said, adding that the people should not wait for the State government to work on preserving it. He also stressed on preserving folk lore of various tribes of the State.
Khandu also informed that an advisory council will be constituted on a rotation basis of various tribes for the DIA. He said the advisory council will be guiding the Minister and leaders to sustain, function and perform DIA.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by the DIA, Khandu assured every possible help to meet up with the request.
Greeting the people on the celebration of IFD, DIA Minister Taba Tedir said that the State government is working effortlessly to provide more facilities in the DIA office. He added that the State government is making all efforts to expand the Department of Indigenous Affairs at the district-level too.
"The Indigenous tribe and culture of our people should never perish. We should lead a strong and suitable approach for perseverance of local language, culture and tradition," he said, adding that DIA has already succeeded in documenting languages of five tribe documentation as of now; simultaneously rest of the tribe will be funded for documentation.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia stressed on grooming children in chanting local prayers. He said that an institute should be in every district providing education to the children on local language, tradition, culture and customs.
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