Don't put hurdles before implementation of partial 4th language policy, AXX told

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 12: The Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha, Assam (ITSSA) appealed to the Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) not to put hurdles in the State Council of Educatiol Research and Training’s (SCERT’s) move to introduce the languages of the indigenous tribes of the State either as the media of instruction or separate subjects.

The ITSSA had its emergent executive committee meeting at JB Hagjer Bhavan in the city yesterday. The meeting extended its full support to the partial fourth language policy adopted by the SCERT at its last meeting held on August 17, 2016. Yesterday’s meeting condemned the AXX for its opposition to the partial fourth language policy even as AXX representative to the meeting extending full support to the resolution taken by the SCERT at its August 17 meeting. The ITSSA said that AXX secretary general Dr. Paramanda Rajbongshi had extended his support to the partial fourth language policy at the meeting. “However, in a press release issued on August 27, 2016, AXX president Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora and secretary general Rajbongshi stated that the SCERT’s move to implement the partial fourth language policy in Assam as unfortute,” the ITSSA leaders said, and added: “This opposition from the AXX is tantamount to going against the Right To Education (RTE), 2009, and Article 350(A) of the Constitution of India that say that the indigenous languages of the country should be implemented either as media of instruction of separate subjects. “We appeal to the AXX not to put hurdles in the STERT’s move to implement the partial fourth language policy in the State,” they said.

The ITSSA also expressed its gratitude to Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal for assuring an ITSS delegation of considering their demands sympathetically and making an announcement for the setting up of a Bhawan in Guwahati for eight indigenous tribal sahitya sabhas of the State. The ITSSA meeting decided to move the government for allotment of lands in the city for the twin projects.

Meanwhile, the ITSSA expressed concern over an advertisement published on August 31, 2016 wherein reservation for ST(H) candidates has not been specified in some districts like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Goalpara, Kamrup etc., districts. “We demand immediate cancellation of the advertisement,” the ITSSA meeting said.

The advertisement has been issued for the filling up of 6,134 posts of teacher in lower primary schools and 6,144 posts in upper primary schools in the State.

The ITSSA meeting also raised the demand for the filling of vacant posts of language teachers of Bodo, Garo and others in the State without further delay.

Meanwhile, the ITSSA is going to hold its convention on October 23, 2016 in Karbi Anglong district.          

Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) vice president Bisweswar Basumatary and general secretary Kamalakanta Mushahary; Deori Sahitya Sabha (DSS) president Lila Kanta Deori, vice president Pradip Kumar Deori and assistant secretary Prahlad Deori; Towa Sahitya Sabha (TSS) general secretary Bidyut Vikash Sepati, vice presidents Sharat Chandra Pator and Dwipendra Bordoloi, and joint secretary Jogeswar Bordoloi; Rabha Sahitya Sabha general secretary Rajkumar Rabha; Dimasa Sahitya Sabha’s Dr. Mahanta Kumar Langthasa, Garo Sahitya Sabha (GSS) president Hilbird G Monin, general secretary Hensford Sangma and member Chengister R Sangma and Mising Sahitya Sabha buleting editor Jiten Payeng were present at the meeting.