Lok Sabha Question No. 1349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Status of Classical Language
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1349 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## STATUS OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGE

## † 1349. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of the Indian languages which have been accorded the classical language status;
- (b)   whether the Government has implemented any schemes to provide financial assistance to various projects of classical language;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   the details of the funds provided for  each classical language during each of the last three years, language-wise;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  regarding  the  classical  language projects during the last three years; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIORNMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) So far,  six  languages  i.e.  Tamil,  Sanskrit,  Telugu,  Kannada,  Malayalam, Odia have been accorded the status of 'Classical Language'.
- (b)to(f) For Sanskrit Language, various Universities/ autonomous organizations i.e. Rashtriya  Sanskrit  Sansthan,  New  Delhi,  Maharishi  Sandipani  Rashtriya  Ved  Vidya Pratishthan,  Ujjain,  Rashtriya  Sanskrit  Vidyapeetha,  Tirupati  and  Sri  Lal  Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, are extending the assistance.

For  Classical  Telugu  and  Classical  Kannada,  the  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  and Development  has  established  Centres  of  Excellence  for  Studies  in  respective language in Central Institute of Indian Languages, (CIIL),Mysore during 2011.

In  respect  of  Classical  Tamil  Language,  an  autonomous  organization,  Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai has been established at Chennai.

University Grant Commission under the purview of Ministry of Human Resource and Development,  has  a  scheme  of  Major  Research  Projects  meant  for  University/ College  Teachers  through  which  research  projects  are  awarded  for  promotion  of Classical Languages. The scheme is helping in improving the quality of research in Classical Languages.

Details  of  the  fund  released  to  Classical  Languages  during  the  last  three  years, language wise, by University Grant Commission, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, is as given below-

(In Rupees)

| No.   | Language   |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19(upto 04.02.2019) |
|-------|------------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
| 1     | Sanskrit   |   1363416 |   1317076 |                      79595 |
| 2     | Kannada    |    283700 |   1101280 |                          0 |
| 3     | Telugu     |    901395 |   2100971 |                     555300 |
| 4     | Tamil      |   1978205 |   2949184 |                    1327564 |
| 5     | Malayalam  |   1094300 |   1743636 |                       7600 |
| 6     | Odia       |     53813 |    355630 |                          0 |
|       | Total      |   5674829 |   9567777 |                    1970059 |

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