Lok Sabha Question No. 1068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-17
Subject: Bhasha Sangam Programme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR, VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2018

## BHASHA SANGAM PROGRAMME

## 1068.    SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR: SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government has  written  to  all  States  and  Union  Territories  recommending that  five  sentences  from  different  languages  be  read  out  by  senior  students  during  the morning assembly in schools under its 'Bhasha Sangam' programme;

(b) if so, the details and the broader objectives of the said program;

(c) whether the proposal has been received and accepted by the States;

(d)  whether  the  Government  would  be  considering  to  make  learning  a  different  Indian language other than the mother tongue mandatory or elective part of the syllabus and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether  the  said  programme  was  aimed  at  students  to  learn  about  the  culture  and traditions of other States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (b) Yes, Madam. The Department of School Education & Literacy has initiated Bhasha Sangam - A Celebration of Linguistic Diversity which marks the appreciation of the unique symphony of languages of our country, from 20 th November to 21 st December, 2018. In  order  to  celebrate  the  unique  characteristic  of  our  country,  Bhasha  Sangam  provides  an opportunity  to  schools  and  educational  institution  (BIETS,  DIETs,  CTEs/IASEs,  SCERTs, SIEs,  School  Boards,  Directorates  of  School  Education,  etc.)  to  provide  multilingual exposure  to  students  in  Indian  Languages.  The  objective  is  to  familiarize  every  child  with simple dialogues in all the 22 languages under Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India, taking  up  one  language  on  each  working  day,  to  enhance  linguistic  tolerance  and  promote national integration.

(c) The  initiative  has  been  widely  received  and  accepted  by  States  and  UTs  in  very positive manner and schools are introducing five simple and commonly used sentences as per their  convenience  without  any  additional  load  on  school  students.  Also,  more  than  55,000 videos of such experiences have been shared by the schools. There are 77,510 views of these videos on YouTube and 97,83,762 impressions on Twitter.

(d) Section 29(2)(F) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 states that 'medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, be in child's mother tongue'.  The  National  Curriculum  Framework  (NCF),  2005  emphasises  the  importance  of imparting  primary  education  in  the  mother  tongue  of  the  child.  Since  education  is  in  the Concurrent List, States have the liberty to decide the medium of instruction in schools. The NCF also states that the 'Three Language Formula' is an attempt to address the challenges and opportunities of the linguistic situation in India. As per the 'Three Language Formula' the first language to be studied, must be the mother tongue or the regional language. In nonHindi - speaking States, children learn Hindi. In the case of Hindi speaking States, children learn a language not spoken in their area. Sanskrit may also be studied as a modern Indian language in addition to these languages.

(e) Yes, Madam. The Bhasha Sangam initiative under the 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' aims to make the students aware about the unique cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of our country.

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