Punjab to study language policy of other states

Chandigarh, Mar 29 (UNI) Punjab would study the language policies of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharastra and Gujarat to boost the use of Punjabi language in the government work as well as among the public.

Mr Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, today asked the state's Director Information and Public Relations to put up a report within a week after studying the language policies of these states.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to chalk out plan to effectively implement the unanimous resolution in the state assembly regarding implementation of Punjabi Language Act in the State, Mr Bains underlined the need to the take steps at three-levels to reach this goal.

These included making required amendments to make Punjab State Language Act more effective, to take steps to ensure working in Punjabi in all Government offices and to take punitive action against errant officials, violating these guidelines, he said.

Mr Bains said that major challenge before the Government was to effectively implement the teaching of Punjabi as first medium language in all schools from Class I to Class X and a committee had been constituted to study Karnataka and Kerala models, Mr Bains said.

Mr Bains said that the state Government was contemplating to set up effective vigilance machinery at district-level to check the implementation of the language act.

UNI JN BP1937