Ranchi: The first meeting of the five-member special ministerial committee formed to resolve the ongoing language dispute in the Jharkhand Teacher Eligibility Test (JTET) ended on Monday without any final decision. During the meeting, all committee members presented their arguments and supporting facts regarding regional languages, but no consensus could be reached.
Before the meeting, committee coordinator and Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore had sought necessary information from the Personnel Department. However, officials reportedly failed to provide satisfactory details, following which the committee directed the department to submit complete and clear data before the next meeting.
A detailed discussion was held on the removal of Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika from the JTET rules. Committee members questioned education department officials about the basis on which these languages were excluded from the examination framework. The panel has now asked for all factual and administrative records related to the decision-making process.
Data Sought on Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika Speakers
The committee also asked for district-wise data on the number of Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika speakers across Jharkhand. In addition, officials have been directed to provide detailed records of how many candidates had appeared in previous JTET examinations through these languages.
Members of the committee emphasized that before including or excluding any language from the rules, it is essential to study its social, educational, and demographic significance.
Questions Raised Over Census Figures
Questions were also raised over the data presented by the Personnel Department. According to information discussed in the meeting, figures based on the 2011 Census reportedly showed that the number of Bhojpuri and Magahi speakers in the state is nearly four times higher than those speaking Odia and Bengali. Committee members questioned why such widely spoken languages were removed from the examination system despite their large speaker base.
Objections were also raised over the exclusion of Kurmali from certain districts of the Santhal Pargana region in the new rules, despite claims that more than three lakh people speak the language there.
Demand to Include Maithili
The meeting also discussed the status of Maithili. Members argued that since Maithili has the status of a second official language in Jharkhand, it should also be included among the regional languages in JTET. The committee recommended considering its inclusion in the revised framework.
Concern Over Tribal Languages
The issue of primitive tribal languages also figured prominently in the discussions. Committee members questioned the basis for removing languages associated with Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), including Asur and Birhor. They stressed that these languages are closely linked to Jharkhand’s tribal and cultural identity and therefore require sensitive handling and detailed study.
Next Meeting Scheduled for May 22
The committee has directed the Education Department to prepare a detailed report identifying which tribal and regional languages are spoken in different districts and regions of the state. The report will also include data on speaker population, usage, and educational relevance of each language.
The next meeting of the committee has been scheduled for May 22, where further discussions will be held based on the data and reports submitted by the department. The committee includes ministers Radhakrishna Kishore, Deepika Pandey Singh, Yogendra Prasad, Sudivya Kumar Sonu and Sanjay Prasad Yadav.