Manipur State integrity : The importance of Tribal languages to strengthen it
- Part 4 -

Ragongning Gangmei *

Manipur

1. Article 350-A

It seems, Manipur State Government is not aware of the Article 350-A of the Constitution of India

2. Printing of school textbooks of tribal languages:

There is no fund in the State Budget of Education Department, BOSEM and COHSEM for printing of school textbook of tribal languages in Manipur.

School textbooks are printed and distributed privately by the literatrure societies of the respective language groups with the meager financial assistance from the TRI.

3. Staff appointment exclusively for tribal languages:

The State Government of Manipur does not appoint any staff for tribal languages - neither in the Education Department nor in BOSEM and COHSEM. There is no arrangement at all.

4. Annual Financial Grant to the Literature Societies of tribal languages:

Manipur State Government does not give financial assistance to the Literature Societies of tribal language groups in the State to meet the costs of mainte rancesar.c concjct'.ng Aorxsnops, trainings, awareness campaigns, etc.

5. Teacher appointment for tribal languages:

As of now, there is no plan of the State government for appointment of teachers for tribal languages. Just for name sake, some language teachers were appointed by the State Government but none of them are utilised for teaching tribal languages nor given training for teaching in tribal languages.

6. Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation:

There is an empty Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation estab lished by the State Government some 3/4 years back. So far nothing is seen to have been done or achieved.

If one wishes to see the whole Manipur, he or she should have a look of all the indigenous ethnic communities of Manipur. They are - (I just want to repeat them again)

(1) Aimol, (2) Anal, (3) Angami, (4) Chiru, (5) Chothe, (6) Gangte, (7) Hmar, (8) Inpui, (9) Koireng, (10) Kom, (11) Kharam, (12) Lamkang, (13) Liangmai, (14) Mao, (15) Maram, (16) Maring, (17) Mate, (18) Meitei, (19) Meitei Pangal, (20) Mizo, (21) Monsang, (22) Moyon, (23) Nepali, (24) Paite, (25) Paumai, (26) Purum, (27) Ralte, (28) Ruangmei, (29) Sahte, (30) Sema, (31) Simte, (32) Tangkhul, (33) Tarao (34) Thadou-Kuki, (35) Thangal, (36) Vaiphei, (37) Zeme, (38) Zou.

The beauty of Manipur is made with them like a beautiful garden of variety of flowers. They are the mosaic of Manipur integrity. These ethnic groups of people have their own district languages which are the matters of heart and emotion of these ethnic communities. The State Government of Manipur is not taking care of them. Their voices are neglected by the State Government. They are not given heard. So these people are frustrated group of people in Manipur. They had submitted several memoranda and representations to the State Government.

Even they have published books, pamphlets, tracts, etc. on the attitude of the State Government towards tribal languages in Manipur. To mention a book popularly read by everyone is (State Apathy of Tribal Languages in Manipur" which was published by the Council of Tribal Languages and Literature Societies, Manipur. It was an attempt to highlight the issues of tribal languages in Manipur and intended to draw the attention of the State Government, elected people representatives, political communities, scholar community, elites and common people of the State.

Is the State administration genuinely interested in Manipur State integrity? If the answer is 'Yes', then they have to do homeworks, Homeworks within ourselves, Not at the territory fence. Territory fence is safeguard in tack by the above communities.

We have to commit ourselves to work hard in this direction.

For Language-touch, it does not acquire millions of rupees. It needs only 2 or 3 crores to be earmarked in the State Budget - an amount as small as the cost of a culvert or of a village community hall. But it can bring amazing changes in the State (Manipur), especially in consolidating emotional integrity of the State.

Discover the joy of sowing the seed of unity of the old languages of Manipur and experience the miracle of reaping the harvest of unity in the State (Manipur).

(i) The above information about neighbouring States are collected from our own sources. The Manipur State Government may collect the information from the respective State Governments to ascertain how the Article 350-A is implemented and how the tribal languages are promoted in our neighbouring States.

Concluded