Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: Expressing serious concern over step-motherly treatment to the Dogri language by the State Government, the Dogri Sanstha Jammu has demanded introduction of the subject in all schools of this region.
Giving reference of a recent order, issued by the Directorate of School Education, the Sanstha rued that the subject of Dogri has not been introduced in any of the recently upgraded 31 Government Higher Secondary Schools.
“It is beyond logic to understand that Urdu, Persian and Kashmiri subjects have been offered in these schools whereas the Dogri, which is mother-tongue of the majority of the students of this region, has not been included in the distribution of subjects,” said Prof Lalit Magotra, president of the Dogri Sanstha while talking to media persons, here today.
“The dismal condition of Dogri can be gauged from the fact that there are 7161 Primary Schools and 3514 Middle Schools in Jammu province and in none of these schools Dogri is being taught despite the Government order in April, 2006 to introduce Dogri at primary level,” he added.
Prof Magotra further said that out of total 825 High Schools in the region, only 10 schools have been provided Dogri subject teachers while at Higher Secondary level where number of schools is 298, Dogri is being taught in 4 schools only.
“These figures reveal the extent of seriousness of the State Government towards promoting Dogri in School Education,” he lamented.
Expressing serious concern over the prevailing situation with regard to Dogri, Prof Magotra alleged that the recent order on subjects in newly upgraded 31 Higher Secondary Schools was not only a deliberate attempt to discourage and denigrate Dogri language but also divide and create mistrust among the people of the State on the basis of languages.
“We demand immediate withdrawal of the said order and urge upon the Government to provide for the subject of Dogri in all the Higher Secondary Schools of Dogri speaking region of the State with immediate effect,” said Prof Magotra who was accompanied by Prof Champa Sharma and other prominent Dogri writers.
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