Mein to seek approval for Tai Khamti as third language

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR, June 25: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said he would soon seek approval for creation of teachers posts for the Tai-Khamti language before the State cabinet, which will be introduce as the third language in the Tai Khamti inhabited areas from this session.

He said that Khamti is the only language that has its own script after Bhoti language in the State and it needs separate trained teachers to teach the language.

Mein informed this during a function organized by the Tai Khamti Heritage and Literary Society to felicitate resource persons from Khamtilong (Myanmar), who were imparting training cum crash course to the trainees in the ongoing workshop on Tai Khamti revised script and literature at Kongmukham (Golden Paghoda) at Tengapani in Namsai district on Sunday.

He further stated that Khamti is a literally rich tribe and lauded the youths for showing keen interests in the language. He appealed every member of the society, the elite and NGOs to cooperate and promote it for betterment of all, an official report informed here today.

"As an elected representative and as part of the government, I am just a facilitator but the lead role should be taken by the elite groups of the society, community based organizations, educated youths and NGOs", the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He expressed happiness that girls are also catching up and are able to teach the Tai Khamti script, while citing that it was once a taboo for girls and females to enter the Buddhist temples because of which the female members could not learn the Tai Khamti script as it was taught inside the temples only.

He requested Deputy Commissioner RK Sharma and DDSE T Pabin to introduce the Tai Khamti script as the third language in the private schools too in Namsai district and asked them to work out modalities and issue directives accordingly.

He also welcomed the step to make teaching of the Tai Khamti script compulsory in temples and monasteries of Tai Khamti inhabited areas, which would go a long way in preservation and promotion of the language.