Preparation afoot to use Limbu and Maithili in govt businesses, demand to include Tharu language

Biratnagar: The Koshi Province government has endorsed the ‘Koshi Province Bill to make arrangements regarding language of government function 2081 BS’.

The move has paved the way for the official use of Limbu and Maithili languages in provincial government administrative work starting from November 11 this year, coinciding with the birth anniversary of national luminary Phalgunanda.

According to the 8th report of the Language Commission, Nepali is the highest spoken language in the province followed by Limbu and Maithili.

According to the census of 2078 BS, the province has over 4.9 million population out of which 11.68 per cent population speaks Maithili while 6.7 per cent speak Limbu.

The Bill was originally introduced as a private bill by lawmakers of opposition parties. The ruling coalition had initially rejected the bill but later reintroduced by the government for the theoretical discussion.
The coalition government, led by CPN (UML)’s Hikmat Karki with support from Nepali Congress, put forward the Bill with an objective to preserve, promote and develop all mother languages spoken within the Province.

The new legislation allows translated documents in Maithili and Limbu in administrative business, publication of provincial, gazette and use in public service. It also permits the local level within the Province to use those majority-spoken languages for administrative purpose.

The provincial government has expressed its commitment to protect and promote other mother languages spoken within the province through research, academic, literary and cultural initiatives.
For that, a group of 11 language experts will be formed to support these initiatives with inclusion of at least one-third women.

The provincial government as well the local governments are obliged to make budgetary arrangements for protection and promotion of official languages.

Furthermore, 253 employees of 7th level will be recruited to facilitate the implementation of the Bill.
Meanwhile, demand has been raised to add Tharu lanaguge in the list of official language in the Province, citing 4.4 per cent of demography of Tharu speaking community in the province.