Dimapur | September 11 : The Government of India is still undecided about the inclusion of about 38 more dialects in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. Among others, the dialects include Tenyidie from Nagaland, and even English, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jitendra Singh, told the Lok Sabha, September 9. In fact, the government is still keeping “under consideration” the recommendations of the language report that was submitted more than 6 years ago.
The dialects under consideration for inclusion into the Eight Schedule are Angika, Banjara, Bazika, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhotia, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Dhatki, English, Garhwali (Pahari), Gondi, Gujjar/Gujjari, Ho, Kachachhi, Kamtapuri, Karbi, Khasi, Kodava (Coorg), Kok Barak, Kumaoni (Pahari), Kurak, Kurmali, Lepcha, Limbu, Mizo (Lushai), Magahi, Mundari, Nagpuri, Nicobarese, Pahari (Himachali), Pali, Rajasthani, Sambalpuri/Kosali, Shaurseni (Prakrit), Siraiki, Tenyidi and Tulu.
Union Minister Singh said a committee was set up in 2003 chaired by Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve a set of objective criteria for inclusion of more dialects/languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. “The committee submitted its report in 2004. The report of the committee is under consideration in consultation with the concerned departments/ministries of the Central government. No time frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule,” stated Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The dialects under consideration for inclusion into the Eight Schedule are Angika, Banjara, Bazika, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhotia, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Dhatki, English, Garhwali (Pahari), Gondi, Gujjar/Gujjari, Ho, Kachachhi, Kamtapuri, Karbi, Khasi, Kodava (Coorg), Kok Barak, Kumaoni (Pahari), Kurak, Kurmali, Lepcha, Limbu, Mizo (Lushai), Magahi, Mundari, Nagpuri, Nicobarese, Pahari (Himachali), Pali, Rajasthani, Sambalpuri/Kosali, Shaurseni (Prakrit), Siraiki, Tenyidi and Tulu.
Union Minister Singh said a committee was set up in 2003 chaired by Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve a set of objective criteria for inclusion of more dialects/languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. “The committee submitted its report in 2004. The report of the committee is under consideration in consultation with the concerned departments/ministries of the Central government. No time frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule,” stated Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
