Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Dogra activist Jayesh Gupta today met Director School Education (DSE) Jammu, AK Sharma in his office chamber and submitted him a memorandum demanding introduction of Dogri language in schools of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Jayesh apprised the DSE Jammu about the pathetic condition of Dogri language. He informed Sharma that a recent estimate depicts that only 10 percent of the population in urban areas of Jammu is speaking Dogri and it is estimated that by the year 2050 the numbers of individuals speaking Dogri in urban areas will be negligible and the language will gradually stop to exist in due course of time.
Jayesh said Dogri is the mother language of around 30 lakh people staying in Jammu province and an equal number staying in other states and abroad. He said as per the 92nd amendments to the constitutions of India, known as the Constitution Act 2003, Dogri language was given the status of official language in the country besides other 21 languages.
“Dogri was included in the schedule eight to the Constitution on 23rd September 2020. Lok Shaba passed J&K official languages (Amendment) bill making Dogri as the official language of the UT of J&K as well as in the country,” he said, adding, National policy dictates that the official languages are taught as compulsory subject in primary classes as this helps students to know their rich culture, moral values and traditional knowledge.
Jayesh said even National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 points out that in the medium of study between classes 1 to 5th, Mother Language should find place. “Unfortunately, Dogri does not find place as a subject of study in Union Territory of J&K,” he lamented and requested DSE Jammu to implement the NEP at the ground level and introduce Dogri language in schools of J&K.
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