Make Tamil compulsory from next academic year: Ramadass

Puducherry, Oct 19: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) parliamentary party leader M Ramadass today urged the administration to make Tamil a compulsory language in Puducherry and Karaikal from the next academic year.

In a letter to Chief Minister N Rangaswamy, a copy of which was issued to the press here, Prof Ramadass described the need for the students to learn in their mother tongue and said Tamil be made a compulsory subject in Puducherry and Karaikal from the next academic year, Malayalam in Mahe region and Telegu in Yanam region.

Prof Ramadass hoped that all Legislators would extend their support to the scheme and the Chief Minister would be satisfied for having taken a historic decision, if it was implemented.

Making Tamil a compulsory subject would not prevent anyone from learning English. Those who think that learning in English would help to develop their knowledge and secure jobs were free to do so, he said.

Prof Ramadass also pointed out that Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments had already enacted Legislations in this regard. UNI