Lok Sabha Question No. 4677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Money Spent on Promotion of Classical Language
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dayanidhi Maran

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4677 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.3.2020

## Money Spent on Promotion of Classical Language

## 4677.    SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- es like Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Odia during the last three years, year-wise, language-wise;
- (b)  the  different  ways  the  above  languages  are  promoted  along  with  the  details  of  various activities undertaken language-wise, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c)  the  number  of  persons  speaking/having  the  above  languages  as  their  mother  tongue, language-wise;
- (d)  the basis on which funds are allocated for each language;
- (e) the reasons for the huge difference in the funds allocated for the promotion of Sanskrit visa-vis other Classical Languages; and
- (f)  the justification for the huge allocation only for the promotion of Sanskrit while ignoring the other Classical Languages?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI  RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to  (f):      The  policy  of  the  Government  is  to  promote  all  Indian  Languages  including Classical Languages. Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) works for  the promotion of

all Indian languages including four classical languages viz. Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia. There is a separate institute namely Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) which works  for  the  development  and  promotion  of  Classical  Tamil.  The  Government  of  India  is promoting the Sanskrit Language through three  Deemed  Universities. Funds are provided to  these  deemed  universities  for  teaching  and  research  in    Sanskrit  language  leading  to award  of  degree,  diploma,  certificate  to  students  and  no  separate  funds  are  provided  for undertaking  any  work  related  to  classical  aspect  of  Sanskrit.    No  funds  have  so  far  been provided  for  promotion  of  Classical  Malayalam  and  Classical  Odia  as  Centres  for  these languages , though approved , are yet to establish.

Details of grants released / allocated during the last three years for the promotion of remaining three Classical Languages are as under:-

(Rs. in crore)

|   No. | Classical Language   |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|-------|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|     1 | Kannada              |      0.91 |      0.92 |      0.92 |
|     2 | Telugu               |      1    |      1    |      0.99 |
|     3 | Tamil                |      5.02 |     10.27 |      5.45 |

Classical  languages  are  promoted  on  several  counts  including  promoting  research  on old manuscripts, knowledge texts, their interpretation, digitization and publication , etc.

Classical languages are by default ancient languages having a history of around 1500 years or more. Being dynamic entities, languages keep on changing over time.   Census of India also does not enumerate such data as informed by Central Institute of Indian Language (CIIL). The  funds  are  allocated  to  Centres  for  Classical  languages  based  on  their  needs  and requirements.

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