‘Recognise Punjabi as state’s 2nd official language’
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, various Punjabi organisations from Sirsa submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Kumar Sharma on Friday.
The delegation was led by Prof Gurcharan Singh Sirsa. Representatives of these organisations also held a symbolic protest outside Mini-Secretariat in support of Punjabi language.
The protest was supported by several groups, including the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha; Lok Panchayat, Sirsa; Punjabi Teachers and Language Promotion Society, Sirsa; and Punjabi Writers Association, Sirsa.
The DC assured the groups that the memorandum would be forwarded to the Haryana Government, and the district administration would extend full support for the development of the Punjabi language.
During the event, Swarn Singh Virk, a left-wing thinker, emphasised the importance of discussing the status of mother languages and bringing attention to the shortcomings in their use.
Prof Sirsa urged the state government to recognise Punjabi as the second official language and implement its use in schools from classes I to VIII in Punjabi-majority areas.
He also called for accepting applications in Punjabi in all government offices, and hiring staff for translation services.
Teacher leader Boota Singh highlighted the negative impact of vocational courses on the language, and called for filling vacant posts of Punjabi teacher so students interested in the language could study it.
