Govt pursuing to include Khasi, Garo languages in 8th schedule

Shillong, Mar 21 (UNI) The Meghalaya government is lobbying hard to get the Khasi and Garo languages included in the eighth schdedule of the Constitution and pursuing the matter at appropriate level at the Centre.

Chief Minister D D Lapang today informed this to the House adding that both the languages had already been given the associate language status in Meghalaya.

Replying to a supplementary raised by Mr Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), the Chief Minister said English continues to be the main official language of the state while Khasi as associate language is used in district and block levels of East and West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills districts.

Similarly, Garo is used in East, West and South Garo Hills districts.

To a separate supplementary Mr Lapang made it clear that the Garos working in Khasi, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi were not required to write or communicate in Khasi language for the government instruction was not to impose any language on any community.

UNI PRS TJP KD RK1310