SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that it has taken multiple steps to promote the use of Hindi in official work following the implementation of The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, which recognises Hindi as one of the Union Territory’s official languages alongside Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri and English.
Replying to a question raised by legislator Ranbir Singh Pathania in the Assembly, the Government said that all official correspondence received in Hindi is now responded to in bilingual form, in both Hindi and English, to ensure effective compliance with the Act’s objectives.
A committee constituted through Government Order No. JK(GAD) of 2022 dated May 20, 2022, to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for identifying areas where different official languages should be notified for use in official purposes, has already submitted its report. However, its acceptance is pending as the Finance Department has sought certain clarifications.
Detailing the measures taken to promote the use of Hindi in government offices, the reply said a comprehensive database of language cells in different departments is being prepared to assess their functionality, staffing, and linguistic practices. The e-office system operational across government departments now provides inbuilt tools and templates to facilitate official correspondence in Hindi.
Additionally, the official websites and online portals of departments are being made trilingual, offering users the choice to access content in Hindi, Urdu, or English. The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is also preparing training modules and conducting sensitisation workshops in collaboration with universities and other institutions to enhance practical use of official languages, including Hindi.
The Government said that dedicated sections for official languages, including Hindi, are gradually being established in all public libraries. The Hindi wing of the Academy, functioning since 1964, continues to publish its bimonthly magazine Sheeraza and annual anthology Hamara Sahitya to promote Hindi literature.
Every year, several literary and cultural events are organised across the Union Territory, including national-level Hindi Kavi Sammelans on Republic Day, the Hindi Pakhwada from September 14 to 28, as well as stage plays and seminars under the banner Hindi Rangmanch, Our Language, Our Identity.
On the question of whether proficiency in Hindi has been made mandatory for government recruitment, the Government said that provisions of the Official Languages Act will be incorporated into recruitment rules as per the specific requirements of the post or service.
Explaining the delay in full implementation, the reply said that effective multilingual administration requires coordination across departments, standardised formats, trained manpower, and language-friendly software systems — all of which are being strengthened.
The Government also highlighted its focus on promoting Sanskrit under the National Education Policy 2020. Sanskrit is currently taught as an optional subject in higher secondary schools and as a major, minor, and multidisciplinary course in 18 Government Degree Colleges. Out of 19 sanctioned posts of Assistant Professors (Sanskrit), 15 are presently filled while four are vacant and under recruitment.
The Government said it supports the idea of establishing a dedicated board or academy for Sanskrit promotion in the Union Territory and will consider it in due course, depending on the number of aspiring students.
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