SHILLONG: The state government is yet to recommend to the Centre for the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. An official source said the matter is lying with different committees set up by the state government and hence there was delay in taking up the matter with the Centre. According to the source, the issue of inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule was taken up by the state government in 2015. The main committee constituted by the state government had met three times to discuss the matter. Later, a sub-committee constituted by the govern ment has also taken up the relevant matters for inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule as per the terms of references in its eight sittings.
The preliminary and final reports were submitted to the main committee by the sub-committee. Following this, the main committee forwarded the recommendations to the Political Department for necessary action and to take up with relevant authorities in the Government of India for inclusion of Khasi language. Later, the state government on December 15, 2017, formed an advisory committee to look into the matter. The committee is yet to hold its discussion on the matter. According to the report of the main committee on Khasi language, the Khasi speaking population is 10,91,087 out of the total population of 23,18,822 as per 2001 Census.
The state has doubled the 5,00,000 figures as per the Government of India criteria. The committee said that the government should take necessary steps to make clear the status of Khasi as associate official language. The main committee also accepted in principle the suggestion of the sub-committee to set up Meghalaya Khasi Sahitya Akademi or Khasi Sahitya Akademi as per the requirement of the Centre. The main committee said the Political department can take up the issue with relevant central authorities.
