<p>The dispute between the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</a> government and the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/centre">Centre</a> over implementing the three-language formula has all the elements of language politics, strained federal relations, faulty policy implementation, and dubious exercise of power. </p>.<p>Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remark that Tamil Nadu will be denied Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds if it does not implement the National Education Programme (NEP) and the three-language formula is an arrogant and arbitrary exercise of power. Chief Minister M K Stalin has called it “brash blackmail.” </p>.<p>Tamil parties and organisations and teachers’ bodies have supported Stalin. The funds involved are to the tune of Rs 2,150 crore. Apart from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal have also faced the prospect of losing SSA funds on similar grounds. The union minister has insisted on full implementation of the NEP, including the three-language formula.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu has been opposed to the formula and has not implemented it. It is seen as a means to impose Hindi on South Indian states, especially under the BJP dispensation. Pradhan has accused the DMK government of playing politics but the promotion of Hindi, which often becomes a forced imposition of the language, is part of the BJP’s politics too. </p>.Ukraine conflict: Endgame in sight?.<p>Education is in the Concurrent list and states have a legitimate say in matters related to it. If the Central government decides what the content of education is and how it is taught, states may not be left with any rights. Language is a particularly sensitive matter and should be handled with care.</p>.<p>The NEP does not prescribe Hindi as part of the three-language formula. But the implementation of the formula may in practice lead to the use of Hindi as the third language in most schools. Tamil Nadu has traditionally had a two-language policy and it is wrong to use coercive measures to make it accept the central government’s policy. </p>.<p>The central minister has no power to withhold funds on the grounds of non-implementation of a language policy by a state. The three-language policy does not figure in the Constitution. It is not part of any law and its use is not mandated by any law. It is a policy of the Central government and opposition to the policy does not amount to violation of any law that leads to a penalty. </p>.<p>The spirit of cooperative federalism demands mutual respect and flexibility by the Centre and states and accommodation of each other’s views. Central schemes should not be used as vehicles to promote the central government’s politics. The SSA was intended to improve access to education and learning outcomes. It has nothing to do with Hindi and should not be linked to the language.</p>
<p>The dispute between the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</a> government and the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/centre">Centre</a> over implementing the three-language formula has all the elements of language politics, strained federal relations, faulty policy implementation, and dubious exercise of power. </p>.<p>Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remark that Tamil Nadu will be denied Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds if it does not implement the National Education Programme (NEP) and the three-language formula is an arrogant and arbitrary exercise of power. Chief Minister M K Stalin has called it “brash blackmail.” </p>.<p>Tamil parties and organisations and teachers’ bodies have supported Stalin. The funds involved are to the tune of Rs 2,150 crore. Apart from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal have also faced the prospect of losing SSA funds on similar grounds. The union minister has insisted on full implementation of the NEP, including the three-language formula.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu has been opposed to the formula and has not implemented it. It is seen as a means to impose Hindi on South Indian states, especially under the BJP dispensation. Pradhan has accused the DMK government of playing politics but the promotion of Hindi, which often becomes a forced imposition of the language, is part of the BJP’s politics too. </p>.Ukraine conflict: Endgame in sight?.<p>Education is in the Concurrent list and states have a legitimate say in matters related to it. If the Central government decides what the content of education is and how it is taught, states may not be left with any rights. Language is a particularly sensitive matter and should be handled with care.</p>.<p>The NEP does not prescribe Hindi as part of the three-language formula. But the implementation of the formula may in practice lead to the use of Hindi as the third language in most schools. Tamil Nadu has traditionally had a two-language policy and it is wrong to use coercive measures to make it accept the central government’s policy. </p>.<p>The central minister has no power to withhold funds on the grounds of non-implementation of a language policy by a state. The three-language policy does not figure in the Constitution. It is not part of any law and its use is not mandated by any law. It is a policy of the Central government and opposition to the policy does not amount to violation of any law that leads to a penalty. </p>.<p>The spirit of cooperative federalism demands mutual respect and flexibility by the Centre and states and accommodation of each other’s views. Central schemes should not be used as vehicles to promote the central government’s politics. The SSA was intended to improve access to education and learning outcomes. It has nothing to do with Hindi and should not be linked to the language.</p>
