Govt may implement Ramaiah panel recommendations

The state government is committed to implement Ramaiah committee report for development of regional language newspapers, said minister for medical education and district in-charge S A Ramdas.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 70th annual conference of Indian Languages Newspapers Association (ILNA) organised at Rajendra Kalamandir here on Saturday.

“Regional language newspapers have contributed immensely in strengthening Indian democracy and continue to link common man with government. However, the English language mania is threatening the existence of Indian language small newspapers.
Children in rural parts and villages are also going to English medium schools. It has led to decrease in language newspaper readership,” the minister said.

The English medium of instruction has blocked the progress of Indian language newspapers, except for Kerala (Malayalam newspapers). Malayalam newspapers have a fairly good number of circulation compared to languages like Kannada and others. The state government would soon make an announcement of its stand on the recommendations of Ramaiah committee report. The contribution of regional languages in the pre-independence and post independence era was unmatchable.

“Every individual has the responsibility to protect regional language newspapers. While, both state and Central governments should also chip in to support these papers.

Advertisements alone cannot help small newspapers survive the onslaught of modernisation and liberalisation,” he said and added that governments can extend support to the sector.

President of INLA Paresh Nath regretted that government’s neglected small regional newspapers in releasing advertisements. Advertisements on government’s welfare schemes and agricultural programmes are released for English newspapers when the common man and farmers read Indian language papers. There is also a big disparity in money paid towards the release of advertisement to English and Kannada newspapers,” he said and urged the government to end the disparity.

He also urged the government to bring changes in the language policy giving a emphasis on Indian languages. The medical education minister could also bring a rule making medical education in local languages mandatory, he said.

Journalist Rajashekara Koti and office-bearer of INLA Ravi were present.

Paresh Nath re-elected

Paresh Nath was re-elected president of INLA. Other office bearers are Chandrakanth Bhave — treasurer, Deena Bandhu Chaudhary, Ravi Kumar Bishnoi, Rajashekara Koti,  Trishakthi Sundar Raman — vice-presidents.