The Council of Tribal Languages & Literature Societies, Manipur (CTLLSM) on Sunday expressed concern over the fact that tribal education in Manipur might be discontinued due to the state’s utter negligence and lack of patronage for its rich tribal languages.
CTLLSM said Manipur is a multilingual state inhabited by 38 recognized communities, of which 35 are tribal linguistic communities. The linguistic communities need a common future along with other language groups in the state so promotion of all the tribal languages is beneficial for Manipur.
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The CTTLSM cited some reasons for promotion of tribal languages like strengthening unity and integrity of the state, ushering in a common future for all communities in the state and also language is the repository of custom, culture, knowledge system and history of a community.
Notably, 18 tribal languages have been approved for introduction in school education system and 17 are yet to come up.
The Council alleged that there is no fund for promotion of tribal education in the state budget. They also alleged that neither the state government nor many of the elected people’s representatives pay any heed to development of tribal education in Manipur and it seems like tribal languages are nobody’s languages in Manipur.
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CTTLSM said that the state’s government ignorance towards development of tribal languages may force the tribal communities to seek alternative arrangements from the Centre for promotion of their unique tribal languages since it is their identity and pride, reports The Hills Times.
The CTLLSM then claimed that it had been submitting representations and memoranda for allocation of fund in the State’s Budget since 2009.