Linguistic survey to be completed by 12th plan : Minister

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) The Rs 588 crore Linguistic Survey, the second survey of its kind in India is likely to take 10 years from the date of commissioning spanning 11th and 12 plan periods, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeshwari in her written reply to Mr B Janardhana Poojari said the Census data on languages/mother tongues of Indian Union were presented State and Union Territorywise and not Zonal/Regional category like 'South India'. The Census data on language/mother tongues concerned the whole of India uniformly and uniquely.

The country's first Linguistic Survey was held under the superintendentship of Sir George Abraham Grierson from 1984 to 1927 in pre-independent India excluding the provinces of Madras, Burma and States of Hyderabad and Mysore. The data on language derived from decennial census enumeration throughout India are the only primary authentic data available to the people on language profile of the country. The survey will cost Rs 280 crore during 11th plan period and Rs 308 crore during the 12th plan.

To a question of Mr Pyarelal Khandelwal, another Minister of State for Human Resource Development M A A Fatmi said all States and Union Territories excepting Tamil Nadu had adopted three language formula in their schools which was no discrimination against Hindi or any other languages of the country.

Answering Mr T Tamil Selvan about the teacher candidates from non-Hindi speaking states in Kendriya Vidyalayas, the minister said these schools are primarily meant for children with transferable Central Government employees and there was a mix of children with various mother tongues. English and Hindu were used as medium of instruction in the class room and therefore these two languages were required for teachers in these schools.

Answering questions regarding Urdu Mrs Purandeswari said her Ministry implemented Appointment of Language Teachers with 100 per cent Central assistance to the state governments for appointment of language teachers including Urdu. The NCERT had developed new syllabus and text books in Urdu in accordance with NCF 2005. She also said there were training programmes for non-native teachers to learn Urdu and use it for students in bilingual and multilingual class rooms in different states.

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