State notifications, gazettes to be published in both English & Nepali

BIJOY GURUNG

‘Historic step towards preservation & progress of Nepali language’

GANGTOK,: The Sikkim government on Wednesday notified that all official notifications and gazettes shall be published in both English and Nepali languages.

The Home department notification No. 62/Home/2024 dated 21/08/2024, with the above directive, was notified simultaneously in English and Nepali languages.

This language inclusiveness in Sarkari communication comes within 24 hours of the announcement made by Chief Minister PS Golay during the 33^rd Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas celebration at Manan Kendra here.

Nepali is a Constitutionally recognized language after being included in the Eighth Schedule on August 20, 1992 which also mandated its promotion and development. The Sikkim Official Language Act 1977 further recognises Nepali language as one of the official languages of the State.

“…as a step towards fulfilling this constitutional mandate, the State government has decided that henceforth, all official notifications and gazettes shall be published in both English and Nepali languages,” reads the notification issued by chief secretary VB Pathak.

The notification emphasised that this decision was to ensure that all citizens of Sikkim have equal access to government notification and services to promote transparency duly acknowledging the significance of Nepali language in the cultural heritage and identity of the people of Sikkim.

At the Bhasa Diwas function, the Chief Minister had announced that the government notifications and government advertisements would be issued in Nepali language also for promoting its wider use and reach.

Urging for expanded use of Nepali language in written and reading formats, Golay shared with the gathering that the Sikkim government has been accepting applications for official purposes that are written in Nepali language. He directed the Education department to work on a proposal for providing Nepali dictionaries to the school students in the State.

The Chief Minister expressed that these measures aim to encourage wider and progressive use of Nepali language as, he observed, that Nepali language has not made the expected leap despite being included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution three decades ago.

Meanwhile, the announcement followed by the official notification has been warmly received.

In a press statement, Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) Sikkim thanked the Chief Minister and the State government for publication of official notifications and gazettes in Nepali language also. The NSP Sikkim expresses its pride and gratitude to the Chief Minister and the State government and this crucial step will start a new chapter towards the preservation and progress of Nepali language, said the Parishad.

Similarly, Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) has thanked and expressed its gratitude to the Chief Minister and the State government for having government notification published in Nepali language also. This is a historic step to bring the Nepali language’s recognition into practice and further its development and progress, said the PCS.

This historic decision will also boost Nepali journalism, said the PCS.

After declaring Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas as a government holiday, notifying government notifications and gazettes in Nepali language is another major decision taken by the State government for development and protection of Nepali language, added the PCS in the press release issued by general secretary DR Dulal.