In an attempt to promote the local languages, the Uttarakhand government has decided to honour the upcoming and talented authors in Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages every year. Similarly the government would also felicitate the writers of other dialects of Uttarakhand and authors of Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami gave orders regarding the awards while chairing a meeting of Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan (UBS) at the State secretariat on Wednesday.
The CM said that the Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman would be provided every year from the year 2023-24. The awards would be given for excellence, literary service and creative literary activities in the field of Garhwali, Kumauni, other dialects, Punjabi and Urdu. He added that upcoming writers in three local languages ( Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari) would also be felicitated. In the meeting the CM approved the proposal of providing grants to such creative writers of the State who in absence of money are not able to get their books published.
Dhami directed the officers that national or international conventions on languages should be organised in every district of the State. These conventions would be the multi dimensional projects of UBS under which cultural and linguistic exchanges, literary processions and other activities would be held. In the meeting the CM also directed that digital/ e- libraries would be set up in one primary school in every district. He also approved the proposal to organise book fairs in association with the National Book Trust. The UBS would also organise lecture series of eminent authors in the State. Dhami said that local languages and dialects are our identity and pride and the State government is making every effort for conservation and promotion of local languages and dialects.
The officers told the CM that there is a difference in the words and pronunciation of Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari and there is a need for standardisation in grammar and pronunciation. The UBS plans to organise camps in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions for the exercise.
The meeting was attended by Minister Subodh Uniyal, secretary Vinod Prasad Raturi, additional secretary and director of UBS Swati Bhadauria, members Surekha Dangwal, Dinesh Shasrti, Sudha Pandey, HS Bisht and others.
