Commissioner expresses concern at linguistic minorities' education

Kochi, Jun 30 (UNI) Noting that most linguistic minorities live in border areas where naxalite activities are strong, Union Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities A Keswani today said his commission aims to check the spread of naxalite activities in the south by increasing literacy.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Keswani said Kerala's record in safeguarding linguistic minorities was good and the state in fact could act as a role model for other states.

Mr Keswani, who held meetings with district officials and representatives of linguistic minorities in Ernakulam, Palakkad and Idukki districts during his three-day Kerala visit, said that he had received 14 representations from Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and Konkani speaking people.

Mr Keswani said the major issue faced by the Commission was providing education through the mother tongue at least in the primary stage to migrant labour children.

Records showed that the maximum number of school dropouts in the linguistic minorities were from the poorer sections. While the top ten per cent among the minorities were able to educate their children without much problem, it is the poorer sections which faced problems, he said.

Mr Keswani noted that linguistic minorities generally resided in border areas, where naxalite influence was stronger. ''The aim of the Commission is to stop the seeping down of such activities to the south by increasing literacy,'' he added.

UNI ARC DK1455