Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha Wants Rabha, Mising & Karbi As Medium Of Instruction

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The convening committee of the Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha (ITSSA) has raised the demand for introduction of Mising, Rabha and Karbi as the medium instructions at the primary level and Tiwa, Dimasa and Deuri as language subjects from the academic session 2020. The ITSSA had a meeting on June 8, 2019 when it discussed the draft National Education Policy (NEP), 2019.

Addressing the media in Guwahati on Monday, ITSSA president Gobinda Taid said: “The Clause 4.5 of the draft NEP, 2019 has laid stress on mother languages/home languages and indigenous ethnic languages so as to make them medium of instruction at the primary level. However, we doubt that such languages will not get due importance in Assam and other States in the Northeast. Despite provisions in Article 350(A) and the RTI Act, 2009, no government in the State made mother tongues/home languages of all the linguistic groups in Assam medium of instruction at the primary level. We did raise the demand before the NDA in July, 2016 for the implementation of a healthy and clear Tribal Language Policy in Assam. Our demand still stands. Based on the recommendations made by the State language policy experts, we demand a four-language policy in the State. Implementation of this demand will ensure better coordination between the Assamese language and other tribal languages in the State.” The ITSSA is a conglomerate of Boro, Mising, Karbi, Rabha, Tiwa, Deuri, Dimasa and Garo sahitya sabhas. Top leaders of all these literary bodies were also present at the press meet.

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