IMPHAL, April 03: In an attempt to intensify its stand against the proposed implementation of compulsory Hindi/MIL in the first year of the Undergraduate courses to be offered by Delhi University from 2013-2014 session, different North East Students Organizations based in Delhi from all the 8 North Eastern States held a meeting on March 30, 2013 and resolved to collectively fight against the imposition of compulsory languages i.e. Hindi/MILs.
Informing this, a press note released by Naga Students’ Union Delhi said a committee with the name “North East Students Committee Against Imposition of Compulsory Hindi/MILs” with a member from each Students organization, was formed and a Memorandum was collectively submitted to the Vice Chancellor of DU today by student representatives/unions from all the northeast states, including Sikkim.
The memorandum stated that the move to impose Hindi/MILs will have an impact on thousands of aspiring Indian students from the north east especially the indigenous peoples.
“The impracticability of such a policy at the University level is that it will likely generate sentiments of alienation and discrimination in those who desire to study in Delhi University,” it said while pointing out that most of the students from the NE region do not have the necessary competency in Hindi or any of the MIL.
It further pointed out that there are only three languages –Assamese, Manipuri and Bodo – in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India that are spoken by the Indigenous peoples inhabiting the expansive territory of India`s north-east, and who collectively comprise the maximum number of student population from the region in Delhi university.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students’ Union in a press statement has also lamented the making of Hindi/MIL compulsory in Delhi.
A statement of the student body while lamenting the act has appealed to the Member of Parliaments of the state and Ministers to look into the issue considering the welfare of the students from the NE region.