<p>On April 4 this year, heeding to the continued demands made by the State government and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore (the nodal agency for the scheme), the Pay and Accounts Officer of the department of Higher Education (Language Division), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) released Rs 62.7 lakh to CIIL for development of Kannada and Telugu, for the period April 1, 2011 to May 31, 2011.<br /><br />However, shortly after, a telephone call from the ministry asked CIIL not to touch the money. No explanation was offered for the baffling instruction. When CIIL insisted that the Ministry convey the instruction in writing, the Language Division of the MHRD wrote to the Director, CIIL on June 27, asking him not to utilise the money provided.<br /><br />The letter signed by K P J Gerald, under secretary, MHRD reads as follows, “I am directed to refer to your letter dated April 20 on utilisation of funds by CIIL, Mysore for Development of Kannada and Telugu. The matter has been examined. <br /><br />Director, CIIL, may not utilise the money provided under the Head Development of Kannada and Telugu till the scheme is approved by the government and guidelines issued by the MHRD.”<br /><br />The Institute, which was all set to start works to set up the Center of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages (CESCL), is now clueless about its next course of action. <br /><br />Kannada Development Authority Chairman Mukhyamantri Chandru who in a letter dated May 11, 2011, requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for operationalisation of Kannada Classical Language activities, said the Centre had withdrawn the funds yielding to pressure from Tamil Nadu. <br /><br />“One of the key parties supporting the UPA coalition government is Tamil Nadu’s DMK. <br /><br />Tamil Nadu has made all out efforts to ensure that no other language gets the benefits under Classical Language status. The State continues to arm twist the Centre, which is now in its clutches,” he alleged. He said he will visit New Delhi on August 1 to present yet another representation to the Centre.<br /><br />Background<br /><br />While Tamil was recognised as a Classical Language on October 12, 2004, the Centre accorded such recognition to Kannada and Telugu on October 31, 2008. <br /><br />Immediately, R Gandhi, a Chennai advocate, moved the Madras High Court pleading that the Expert Committee’s recommendation and the Centre’s notification dated October 31, 2008, declaring Kannada and Telugu as Classical Languages be quashed.<br /><br />In consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice over the pending interim order and other orders of the High Court of Madras, the Joint Secretary (Languages), MHRD on March 9, 2010 asked CIIL to firm up a proposal with regard to setting up of a Centre for Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages of Kannada and Telugu.<br /><br />The CIIL called for an Experts Committee Meeting in Telugu and Kannada and prepared the draft Detailed Project Proposal Report (DPR) and also a draft document for the State Finance Committee (SFC) and submitted them to the Ministry on November 14, 2010.<br /><br />Benefits <br /><br />* 2 major international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages to be awarded annually<br />* Setting up of centre of excellence for studies of classical languages<br />* UGC to create Professional Chairs for classical languages<br />* CESCL expected to institute awards <br /></p>
<p>On April 4 this year, heeding to the continued demands made by the State government and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore (the nodal agency for the scheme), the Pay and Accounts Officer of the department of Higher Education (Language Division), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) released Rs 62.7 lakh to CIIL for development of Kannada and Telugu, for the period April 1, 2011 to May 31, 2011.<br /><br />However, shortly after, a telephone call from the ministry asked CIIL not to touch the money. No explanation was offered for the baffling instruction. When CIIL insisted that the Ministry convey the instruction in writing, the Language Division of the MHRD wrote to the Director, CIIL on June 27, asking him not to utilise the money provided.<br /><br />The letter signed by K P J Gerald, under secretary, MHRD reads as follows, “I am directed to refer to your letter dated April 20 on utilisation of funds by CIIL, Mysore for Development of Kannada and Telugu. The matter has been examined. <br /><br />Director, CIIL, may not utilise the money provided under the Head Development of Kannada and Telugu till the scheme is approved by the government and guidelines issued by the MHRD.”<br /><br />The Institute, which was all set to start works to set up the Center of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages (CESCL), is now clueless about its next course of action. <br /><br />Kannada Development Authority Chairman Mukhyamantri Chandru who in a letter dated May 11, 2011, requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for operationalisation of Kannada Classical Language activities, said the Centre had withdrawn the funds yielding to pressure from Tamil Nadu. <br /><br />“One of the key parties supporting the UPA coalition government is Tamil Nadu’s DMK. <br /><br />Tamil Nadu has made all out efforts to ensure that no other language gets the benefits under Classical Language status. The State continues to arm twist the Centre, which is now in its clutches,” he alleged. He said he will visit New Delhi on August 1 to present yet another representation to the Centre.<br /><br />Background<br /><br />While Tamil was recognised as a Classical Language on October 12, 2004, the Centre accorded such recognition to Kannada and Telugu on October 31, 2008. <br /><br />Immediately, R Gandhi, a Chennai advocate, moved the Madras High Court pleading that the Expert Committee’s recommendation and the Centre’s notification dated October 31, 2008, declaring Kannada and Telugu as Classical Languages be quashed.<br /><br />In consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice over the pending interim order and other orders of the High Court of Madras, the Joint Secretary (Languages), MHRD on March 9, 2010 asked CIIL to firm up a proposal with regard to setting up of a Centre for Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages of Kannada and Telugu.<br /><br />The CIIL called for an Experts Committee Meeting in Telugu and Kannada and prepared the draft Detailed Project Proposal Report (DPR) and also a draft document for the State Finance Committee (SFC) and submitted them to the Ministry on November 14, 2010.<br /><br />Benefits <br /><br />* 2 major international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages to be awarded annually<br />* Setting up of centre of excellence for studies of classical languages<br />* UGC to create Professional Chairs for classical languages<br />* CESCL expected to institute awards <br /></p>
