The Gujral Committee Report - Language in India

In the first instance, the identification of the districts and other areas, where Urdu speakers constituted at least 15 per cent of the population, was delayed. The reason given was that up-to-date Census figures were being collected. The matter dragged on 5.58
quite some time. After crossing that hurdle, it was discovered that there were difficulties in creating the machinery to translate, but serious efforts were seldom made to overcome them. Details of Statewise implementation of facilities provided for for
and publication of important laws, rules, regulations, etc., in Urdu are given translation
: 5.59 In Andhra Pradesh where lack of translators and of allied facilities should not present a problem, the Government took long to declare Hyderabad District as a unit below
translation had to be undertaken in Urdu on the strength of the Urdu speaking population being more than than 15 per cent. The Government decision was made known through a press note issued on July 11 , 1973. We are not sure if this has been where
in the Gazette as well. In any case, it is not clear why after a general decision to notified
translation 81 facilities to all areas with the requisite percentage of population of the linguistic give
it should have taken so long to issue orders in respect of individual areas. 5.60 Bihar : Tile story was repeated in Bihar where the State Government had agreed in -principle to issue the translations in Urdu, but had not drawn up even a list of areas minorities,
a population of 15 per cent until 1969-70. The latest report of the Commissioner for with
Minorities (1970-71) mentions that the areas, where a linguistic minority constitutes 15 per cent or more of the population, have been notified. The Government has set up a bureau for translating laws, though the witnesses complained that Linguistic
Language in India www.languageinindia.com
643
9 : 1 January 2009
The Gujral Committee Report
translation had not been taken up. Unless tire translation process is completed early, publication would be delayed further, inviting unnecessary complaints. The Chief Secretary of the State, has raised a new point. According to him, "the publication of such notifications, rules, etc., were most important for the block development officers/sub-divisional officers/deputy commissioners /collectors of the districts and he
on Urdu