Come September and all central government departments and public sector undertakings remember the national language. It's time to observe ' Hindi Fortnight' and 'Hindi Week' to be concluded by 'Hindi Day' on September 14.
But most of these things are now mere ritual as nobody appears serious about doing actual work in Hindi. The Official Language Rules 1976, state that 90% of the work in government offices should be done in Hindi. A secret survey conducted by an NGO in 2007 had found that work in Hindi was done only by Rajbhasha cells or sections set up to promote Hindi.
Dalsingar Yadav, director of Rajbhasha Vikas Parishad (RVP), a city-based NGO promoting Hindi, says the extent to which Hindi can be used will depend on effectiveness of preparatory measures. "The plan for actual use of Hindi in addition to English needs to be reviewed from time to time," he says.
He also says the Centre itself is not serious on the issue. A query under the RTI by his organisation exposes this lack of seriousness. RVP had posed 26 queries to the Rajbhasha department of Union ministry of home affairs, New Delhi.
Shockingly, the department did not reply to over half the queries stating information was not available. Answers to about a fourth of queries were not given while replies to remaining fourth were found irrelevant. "What can you expect if this is the situation in Rajbhasha department, which has to play a key role in promoting Hindi," asked Yadav.
He says a parliamentary committee on official language was constituted under Officials Languages Act 1963. The latest report of 2008 made 75 recommendations but most of these are not followed.
One was that more and more Hindi should be used in courts. To begin with verdicts were to be given in Hindi. It also said that routine entries in service books, records be made in Hindi in all Central offices. However, this is not done.
The MPs' committee had also recommended ensuring intensive training facilities in every office so that employees start working in Hindi. Still, 80% of the employees are not trained to work in Hindi. The panel also said that all codes and manuals must be prepared in English and Hindi. That too is not happening.
Yadav said in 1960 orders for compulsory Hindi training were issued and 20% staff was to be trained every year. In five years all the employees should have been trained. "Alas! Hindi training is still continuing," lamented Yadav.
But most of these things are now mere ritual as nobody appears serious about doing actual work in Hindi. The Official Language Rules 1976, state that 90% of the work in government offices should be done in Hindi. A secret survey conducted by an NGO in 2007 had found that work in Hindi was done only by Rajbhasha cells or sections set up to promote Hindi.
Dalsingar Yadav, director of Rajbhasha Vikas Parishad (RVP), a city-based NGO promoting Hindi, says the extent to which Hindi can be used will depend on effectiveness of preparatory measures. "The plan for actual use of Hindi in addition to English needs to be reviewed from time to time," he says.
He also says the Centre itself is not serious on the issue. A query under the RTI by his organisation exposes this lack of seriousness. RVP had posed 26 queries to the Rajbhasha department of Union ministry of home affairs, New Delhi.
Shockingly, the department did not reply to over half the queries stating information was not available. Answers to about a fourth of queries were not given while replies to remaining fourth were found irrelevant. "What can you expect if this is the situation in Rajbhasha department, which has to play a key role in promoting Hindi," asked Yadav.
He says a parliamentary committee on official language was constituted under Officials Languages Act 1963. The latest report of 2008 made 75 recommendations but most of these are not followed.
One was that more and more Hindi should be used in courts. To begin with verdicts were to be given in Hindi. It also said that routine entries in service books, records be made in Hindi in all Central offices. However, this is not done.
The MPs' committee had also recommended ensuring intensive training facilities in every office so that employees start working in Hindi. Still, 80% of the employees are not trained to work in Hindi. The panel also said that all codes and manuals must be prepared in English and Hindi. That too is not happening.
Yadav said in 1960 orders for compulsory Hindi training were issued and 20% staff was to be trained every year. In five years all the employees should have been trained. "Alas! Hindi training is still continuing," lamented Yadav.
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