Manipur CM inaugurates local language training programme

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Dec. 2 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated ‘Two months local language training programme of seven languages,’ organised by the state department of Language Planning & Implementation, in Imphal on Friday.

Manipur’s Education minister Basanta Kumar Singh, Commissioner (Education) H Gyan Prakash, Director (department of Language Planning & Implementation) L Nandakumar Singh, resource persons, officials of department of Education (S) and department of Language Planning & Implementation, besides participants of training programme, were present during inaugural function.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said there is no loss in learning different languages and added “our identity will not be compromised in learning languages.

Singh maintained that the idea behind the local language training programme is to maintain unity among different communities, giving the true meaning of a State.

“If different communities inhabiting the State begin to think only for their respective communities, the meaning of State will be lost,” he added.

Mentioning that the programme is a long-term plan of the government, the chief minister continued that “we could go deeply in something when learned or expressed in our mother tongue.”

Citing an example, he stressed the need for filing of first information report (FIR) by police in the local language of complainants, stating that the latter can express more precisely in their own languages.

Further, stating the importance of learning different dialects, Singh informed that priority would be given to those candidates who know multiple local languages, in recruitment of the state government jobs.

Expressing satisfaction that many students applied for the training programme, he even stressed the need to extend the language training programme for elders to create a healthy relationship among different communities.

The chief minister also expressed the need to include the state’s history in the syllabus of school students to make “our younger generations aware of our history and civilization.”

In his speech, minister Basanta Kumar appreciated the chief minister’s far-sighted vision and for coming up with the initiative of the local language training programme. He shared that the initiative would remain as a significant step in the history of Manipur and added that the same would help in bringing different communities of the state closer to one another.

Kumar expressed his hope that the current government would bring a revolution in the education system of the state, keeping the merit system in the forefront.

Altogether 280 persons (40 participants for each local dialects) will be provided two months training programme for seven local languages including Meitei, Tangkhul, Poumai, Rongmei, Anal, Paite and Thadou on pilot basis.