The Bagmati Province government has started preparations for the practical implementation of its official decision to recognize the Tamang and Nepal Bhasha (Newari) languages as official languages of the province government.
The government has pursued a policy of promoting the use of indigenous languages in official affairs, expecting that it will help make the service deliveries simpler, inclusive and transparent. As part of these preparations, an orientation to this regard targeting the local-level people's representatives was organised on Monday.
During the programme, Language Commission former acting secretary and the under-secretary at the Education and Sports Ministry, Dr Lok Bahadur Lopchan was of the view that providing government services in mother tongues would increase their feeling of ownership and trust in the State, causing a positive impact on the service deliveries.
At the programme held at Dhadingbesi, he presented a working on the roles of Language Commission and other bodies in implementing official languages. He argued that the inclusion of local languages in official communication would enable citizens to express their concerns, problems, and needs more clearly before the authorities.
"It will help cultivate mutual goodwill, promote good governance, and strengthen citizens' sense of ownership towards the state," he said.
Former Chair of Nepal Tamang Ghedung, Mohan Gole, echoed the need to address policy, human resource, and other requirements to promptly translate the decision into action. As he said, such initiative will help bring marginalized communities into the mainstream.
Newa Deya Dabu's Satya Narayan Dangol emphasized the need for cooperation between the Tamang and Newar communities to preserve and promote both languages. He also called for greater use of local languages in the education system.
Presenting his worker paper on plans, phases and the current status of implementing the Right to Language and Official Language Act guaranteed by the Constitution.
The programme was organised by the Nepal Tamang Ghedung and New Deya Dabu with the support from the Province Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The local representatives expressed their commitment to fully implementing the decision in their respective areas. They pledged to take positive measures, including formulation necessary procedures and policies, and managing translators and other required human resources to support the implementation process.
The practical implementation of the province government announcement to recognize Tamanag and Newar languages is still awaited.
KMC conducting Ranjana script calligraphy training
Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has initiated training on writing the Ranjana script to publicize the national identity of this script at the international level.
According to KMC, the main subject of study and training is the Nepal script, the Ranjana script, numeral script writing skills (calligraphy) and handwritten script.
KMC Ward No 17 is running the calligraphy training classes in Ranjana script for the local residents at Thahiti every day starting from 5:30 in the evening. Thirty trainees are attending the training class, it is stated.
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