Lok Sabha Question No. 4555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-14
Subject: Propagation of Hindi
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH, MANSHANKAR NINAMA, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2016

## PROPAGATION OF HINDI

† 4555. SHRI BHARAT SINGH: SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA: DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps taken by Indian Embassies situated abroad for propagation of Hindi Language during the last three years;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  decision  for  setting  up cultural centres abroad;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any financial  assistance  is  provided  by  the  Government for  promoting/teaching  of  Hindi  language  in  foreign  universities; and
- (e) if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) Indian Missions/ Embassies abroad are extension of MEA and ICCR to  implement  their  mandate  overseas.  As  far  as  propagation  of  Hindi language abroad is concerned:
- I. Indian Missions have been instrumental in negotiating terms with the Universities abroad for establishing Hindi Chair and signing of the MoU for the same. ICCR established 20 Hindi Chairs till 2015. Following announcement at the International Hindi Conference in September 2015, to establish 20 additional Chairs, 04 have been so far and MOUs with 04 other Universities have been finalized.
- II. In  addition  to  the  Chairs,  Hindi  teachers  are  deployed  in  37 Culture  Centres  of  ICCR  overseas.  At  present  there  are  Hindi
- teachers  deployed  in  21  of  them  and  process  of  deploying  to others is on.
- III. Indian  Missions  ensure  annual  Celebration  of  Hindi  Day  and 'Hindi  Pakhwara  ( हिन्दीपखवाड़ा )'  on  a  regular  basis  carrying  out variety  of  activities  to  promote  and  encourage  use  of  Hindi language.
- IV. Indian  Culture  Centre  in  Moscow  has  established Baatcheet ( बातचीत )  Club  to  encourage  learning  'spoken  and  communicative language'.
- V. This  year  Missions  in  Fiji  and  Azerbaijan  were  instrumental  in finalizing the MoU  for establishing of Hindi Centre in the University of South Pacific and Azerbaijan University of Languages respectively.
- VI. Missions  in  South  Korea,  USA,  Paris,  Thailand,  Russia  and Mauritius  played  a  key  role  in  organizing  Conferences  and Seminars on promotion of Hindi language.
- VII. Missions in UK and Kenya organized massive Kavisammellans in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. ICCR encourages Culture Centres and all  the  Missions  to  organize  Hindi  KaviSammellans  and  cultural programmes on regular basis.
- (b) Yes.
- (c) At present ICCR has 37 Indian Culture Centres running in various countries. In addition to these, centres are being established in Washington and Paris; and Lagos, Singapore, Toronto and Buenos Aires are cities where establishing new Centres is being considered.
- (d) Yes.
- (e) ICCR has allocated a total of Rs. 4 Crores for promotion of Hindi language  through  its  various  activities  in  the  Indian  Missions  and Culture Centres. The activities include - (i) establishing of new chairs; (ii) maintenance of existing Chairs; (iii) deployment of Hindi teachers in Centres and Missions; (iv) organizing and participation at the conferences,  seminars,  cultural  programmes,  kavisammellans,  literary and  Book  festivals,  bringing  out  publications,  supporting  translations and Hindi Day celebrations….

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