AXX delegation places slew of demands before CM Sarbananda Sonowal

TEZPUR: In a bid to strengthen the base of Assamese language, culture and literature, a delegation of the Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday evening and placed a slew of demands.

In a press note, State secretary of the apex literary body, Jadab Sharma said that in the one hour-long discussion between the Chief Minister and Xabha president Dr. Kuladhar Saikia-led delegation, they discussed about the government's language principle and demanded the government to make Assamese language compulsory not only in government schools but also in private schools. The team also demanded use of Assamese language in all-India level educational institutions based on the fundamental rights mentioned in the Indian Constitution. Besides this, the team also demanded to make mother tongue of every ethnic community living in the region compulsory upto Class XII and stressed making Assamese language a communicative language (lingua-franca) for them.

Moreover, instead of making English an optional language, State language Assamese or other recognized indigenous languages should be given priority of use in any interview or written examination of any department of the government. Giving example of how States like Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and West Bengal have been successful in giving placement to the locals in government sector because of making their local language compulsory, the team also demanded the Chief Minister to ensure hundred percent guarantee of locals' appointment in government sector.

The delegation also appreciated the decision of making Assamese language compulsory in health and PWD departments. The press note mentioned that the delegation also discussed about the new education policy (NEP) 2020 and added that beginning from secretariat to every government and private office, including in the panchayat and civic body offices, the sign boards should be in Assamese language. During the discussion, the delegation team also mentioned about the financial condition of the literary body caused due to the COVID 19. During this hour-long discussion, the delegation team also placed before the Chief Minister a number of projects, including digitization of child literature. During the discussion hour, secretary Jadab Sharma, president of State language sub-committee, Subhas Das, convener Thaneswar Malakar, administrative officer Manjit Singh, press adviser to the CM, Hrisikesh Goswami and legal adviser to the CM, Shantanu Bharali were present.