STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MEETING OF THE CHIEF MINISTERS OF STATES AND CENTRAL MINISTERS HELD ON AUGUST 10, 11 AND 12, 1961
The meeting of Chief Ministers of the States convened to consider the question of national integration began on August 10, 1961. The Prime Minister presided and Cabinet Ministers and some other Ministers of the Central Government and from the States also participated in the meeting.
All the Chief Ministers were present from the 10th August onwards, except Dr. B. C. Roy, Chief Minister of 'West Bengal, who joined the meeting on the 11th and 12th August on his return from abroad; the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was also not present as he bad unfortunately met with an accident on August 10th while coming in a car from Jaipur to Delhi to attend the meeting.
1. In his opening address, the Prime Minister referred to the various aspects of national integration-cultural-educational, linguistic and administrative. He dealt with the problems of communa- lism and linguism and indicated the proper all India, approach to these questions.
2. The Union Home Minister referred to the discussions held at the last conference of Chief Ministers held on the 31st May and 1st June, 1961, and to the steps taken by the Central Government to deal with the question of communalism. He explained the provisions of the two Bills to amend Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, which had been already introduced in Parliament and the proposal to amend the Representation of the People Act.
3. The meeting agreed that it should be made a penal offence for any individual or group to advocate succession of any part of the country from the Indian Union. This matter would be 'considered further later.
4. The Prime Minister referred to the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission that more all-India services be constituted. The principle, of having All-India Services in Engineering, Medical and Forestry departments was accepted, subject to schemes being drawn up and circulated to State Governments for consideration.
5. The meeting was of opinion that the role of rotation of officers in the existing All-India Services between the Centre and States should be more rigorously followed.
6. The meeting also accepted the desirability of having in every High Court some Judges drawn from outside the State.
August 11th and 12th 1. The meeting of the Chief Ministers and Central Ministers continued its deliberations on August 11th and 12th with the Prime Minister in the chair. It met both in the morning and afternoon of August 11th and in the morning of August 12th.
2. The main subject for discussion was the question of language in its various aspects. The Prime Minister opened the discussion by inviting attention to the provisions in the Constitution on the subject. He referred, in particular, to Articles 29, 30, 350A and 350B. He also referred to the Government of India's memorandum of 4th September, 1956 which had been prepared after considering the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission in regard to safeguards for linguistic minorities. This had been issued after consultation with the Chief Ministers of the States. This memorandum was in the nature of an all-India Code indicating the agreed minimum safeguards to be provided to the linguistic minorities in all the States.
3. While the general principles of this memorandum were re- affirmed, certain variations were agreed to, as stated below:
(a) Primary Education-The right of linguistic minorities to have instruction in their mother tongue at the primary stage of education was re-affirmed. This had indeed received constitutional recognition from Article 350A and the President is empowered to issue directions where necessary.
*The decisions of the States in the Southern Zone in regard to primary education were accepted in principle. As these decisions had been taken in view of certain recommendations of the State Reorganisa- tion Commission, they dealt with a particular situation then existing and are not wholly applicable to other States. But the principle was accepted and necessary adaptations can be made. The main objective is that no facilities previously available should be reduced and, wherever possible, further facilities should be given.
(b)+ Secondary Education-Here also, the general provisions of the, 1956 memorandum were reaffirmed and the meeting accepted in principle the decisions of the States of the Southern Zone. These principles should be considered by State Education Departments with a view to adaptation to the present conditions prevailing in the States.
* These decisions are given in full in the Third Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities 1960.
+ These decisions are given in full in the Third Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities-1960.
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The mother tongue formula could not be fully applied for use as the medium of instruction in the secondary stage of education. This stage gives a more advanced education to enable students to follow a vacation after school-leaving age and also prepares them for higher education in Universities. The language used should be modern Indian languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as well as English. An exception might be made however, in the case of hill districts of Assam and the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal, where special arrangements may be made.
4. The importance of providing suitable text books in schools, both at the primary and the secondary stage, was emphasised. Normally these text books should be prescribed by the State Governments and not be left to private enterprise. The text books should be so designed as to inculcate in the minds of pupils an integrated outlook and a sense of the unity of India as well as of the basic cultural background of India. Also, they should provide an introduction to modern conditions in India and elsewhere. The preparation of such text books should be entrusted to persons of high quality. The Central Government should prepare model text books both for the primary and secondary stage.
5. The growth of the regional languages of India and their progressive use in education makes it essential to develop rapidly an all-India language for inter state communication, a purpose which has thus far been served by English. Although English will continue as such medium for some time to come it is clear that urgent steps should be taken to promote Hindi so as to fulfil that purpose as early as possible. Otherwise there is danger of no adequate connecting links, in so far as language is concerned, between the different States.
6. It is important, both from the point of view of inter- national communication and the growth of Modern knowledge, more especially. science, industry and technology, in India, that there should be wide. spread knowledge of an international language. While this language may be any one of the important European languages in effect, English will serve this purpose more easily as it is fairly well known in India. The study of English, therefore is important.
7. it must be remembered that languages, if they are to be known at all well, must be learnt at an early age when it is easy for the child to pick them up.Therefore both Hindi and English should be taught at an early stage.
8. The meeting was of opinion that a common script for all Indian languages was not only desirable, but would be a powerful link between the different languages of India and therefore, of great help in bringing about integration. Such a common script in India in existing circumstances can only be Devanagari. While it may be difficult to adopt a common script in the near future, this objective should be kept in mind and worked for.
9. A three language formula had been evolved by the Government of India, in consultation with the State Govt. for adoption at the secondary stage of education for teaching language subjects. It was agreed that the formula should be simplified and the language subjects for teaching at the secondary stage of education should be as follows:-
(a) the regional language and mother tongue when the latter is different from the regional language;
(b) Hindi or, in Hindi speaking areas, another Indian language; and
(c) English or any other modern European language.
10. The question of affiliation of schools and colleges using minority languages to Universities, and other authorities situated outside the State was considered. It was agreed that in most cases it should be possible to arrange for the affiliation of such institutions to Universities or Boards within the State. But where these were insuperable difficulties in making arrangements for such affiliation within the State, they might be affiliated to Universities or Boards outside the State.
11. While a State may have one or more languages for its official purposes, it must be recognised that no State is completely unilingual. It is because of this that arrangements are suggested for minority languages for education etc. An official language is meant largely for official purposes. For communication with the public, however the objective should be that the great majority of the people should be in a position to understand what they are told. Therefore, wherever publicity is required, other languages in use in the area should be employed, even apart from official language.
12. Where at least sixty per cent of the population of a district speaks or uses a language other than the official language of the State, this language of the minority group should be recongised as an official language in that district, in addition to the State Official language. Recognition for this purpose may, however, be given ordinarily only to the Major languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Exceptions may be made in regard to the hill Districts of Assam and the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal where languages other than these mentioned in the Eighth Schedule may be used.
13. Whenever in a district or a smaller area like Municipality or Tehsil, a linguistic minority constitutes 15 to 20 per cent of the population, it would be desirable to get important government notices and rules published in the language of the minority in addition to any other language or languages in which such documents may otherwise be published in the usual course.
14. The Internal work of the Administration, that is, noting on files, correspondence between different Government offices, should be normally and conveniently carried on in the official language of the State or the Union official language. But for dealings of the Administration with the public petitions and representations in other languages, should also be received from the public and arrangements should be made .for replies to be sent, wherever possible, in such other languages to letters received in them from the public
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Arrangements should also be made for the publication of translations of the substance of important laws, rules regulations, etc. in minority languages in States or districts or wherever a linguistic minority constitutes 15 to 20 per cent of the population. For this purpose, it was agreed that it would be desirable for the States to set up a Translation Bureau at State Headquarters. Wherever a circular or other order of State Government or notification is to be issued for the information of the local public, the District authorities may be authorised to get it translated in the local language of the district or municipal area as the case may be.
15. Correspondence between the State headquarters and the district falls in the sphere of internal administration. Ordinarily, therefore, it would be appropriate to use the official language of the State for correspondence between the State and District headquarters and vice versa. The use of the Union official language should also be permitted for this purpose in place of the official language of the State. This Union official language would thus be either English or Hindi.
16. In recruitment to State Services under the State Government, language should not be a bar. Therefore, besides the official language of the State, option should be given of using English or Hindi as the medium of examination. A test of proficiency in the State official language should be held after selection and before the end of probation.
17. For purposes of recruitment to Services in a State, where eligiblity requires the possession of a University degree or a diploma, degree or diplomas granted by all Universities or institutions recognised by the Central University Grants Commission should be recognised.
18. The question of the medium for University education was discussed at length. The tendency of regional languages to become the media for University education, though desirable in many ways, may well lead to the isolation of such Universities from the rest of India unless there is a link in the shape of an all India language. Teachers and students will not be able to migrate easily from one University to another, land the cause of education will suffer for lack of a common link between Universities in different linguistic areas. The importance of such a common linguistic link between Universities was emphasised. Such a common link can only be English or Hindi. Ultimately it will have to be Hindi, and it is necessary, therefore, that every attempt should be made to make Hindi suitable for this purpose. The change-over to Hindi and generally to a regional language as a medium of education will only be effective when such language has adequately developed for the purpose of modern education, and more especially for scientific and technical subjects. Every effort should be made to develop Hindi and the other languages for this purpose. Till such time as this happens,English may be continued. It may also be possible and desirable for the change-over from English to Hindi or a regional language to be phased or divided up into subjects. Thus, scientific and technical subjects may be taught for as long as necessary in English while- other subjects may be taught with Hindi or the regional languages as the medium. In any event, the standard of teaching both in Hindi and English should be improved and maintained at a high level in schools and colleges.
19. As already decided by the Central Government, all technical and scientific terminology should be based on international usage and should be common to all the Indian languages.
20. The meeting welcomed the declaration made on behalf of the Central Government that English would continue to be used as associate language for all-India official purposes even after Hindi becomes the all-India official language. This has been further confirmed in the Presidential Order issued in regard to the Union Official language.
21. It was agreed that the implementation of the policy herein laid down for the safeguarding of the interests of linguitstic minorities and the promotion of national integration were matters of very great importance. The functions of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities are described in Article 350 B of the Constitution. Though he cannot obviously be entrusted with executive functions for the implementation of the safeguards, it was reiterated that full cooperation should be given to him by all the States. The Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities should not only prepare the annual reports, but make more frequent reports on important subjects which he should sent to the Chief Minister concerned and to the Home Ministry who will circulate it to all the Chief Ministers.
22. The Zonal Councils should pay particular attention to the implementation of this policy in their zonal area. A committee consisting of the Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Councils should be set up under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister. If considered necessary the Union Home Minister may invite other Chief Ministers or other Ministers to meeting of the Committee. This Committee would keep in touch with the working of the various safeguards for linguistic minorities and the promotion of national integration.
23. In view of the great importance of promoting national integration, more frequent meetings of the Chief Ministers and Central Ministers should take place to review the action being taken and to suggest further steps whenever necessary. Success in realising this objective depended on continual vigilance and the cooperation of all the States and the Union Government.
24. The meeting agreed that it was desirable to promote better and more widespread Publicity for promoting national and emotional integration. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would prepare a paper dealing with this subject and circulate it to the Chief Ministers for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
25. In view of the vital importance of national integration, it was agreed that this should be dealt with on a national plan. For this purpose, a larger conference should be convened consisting of, besides Chief Ministers and Central Ministers, leading members of the different parties in Parliament and other eminent personalities including educationists, scientists and professional men.