Telugu mandatory for all schools in the State: C. Ramaiah

Hyderabad, February 20: MLC and educationist Chukka Ramaiah has appealed to the government to create a new ministry to protect and preserve the Telugu language, culture and civilisation in the State.

Talking with reporters here today, Ramaiah sought strict enforcement of GO 86 which make it mandatory for all schools in the State to teach Telugu as a language up to Class 10. ``The importance being given to the Telugu language by the government and its departments is going down with each passing day.

This is not the case with other languages.’’ The legislator demanded that all proceedings in district courts be conducted and copies of the verdicts made available in Telugu. ``Unless people openly express their love for their mother tongue, the government and political leaders will not show any concern for it,’’ he said.

The Telugu Bhashodyama Samakhya will observe the International Mother Tongue Day on Feb 21 as a `blackday’ in protest against the government’s neglect of the Telugu language. It will organise a dharna near Indira Park on that day.

Somala Ramesh Babu, president of the Samakhya, said it was the responsibility of the Telugu-speaking people across the world to preserve their language and culture.

Samakhya vice-president GS Varadachary and secretary Kaluva Mallaiah were present at the press conference.

--Agencies--