Manipuri to be recognised as associate official language in four Assam districts

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has decided to acknowledge and include Manipuri language as an associate official language in four districts of the state.

This was announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

This decision was made during a meeting of the Assam cabinet.

In the meeting, it was decided to recognize Manipuri as an associate official language in the districts of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Hojai.

The Assam cabinet approved the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Bill 2024, aiming to formalize the recognition of Manipuri language in these districts.

Also read: In a first, Assam Assembly holds ballot voting to decide private member’s resolution

The bill proposes the insertion of a new Section 5B into the Assam Official Language Act, 1960, facilitating the recognition of Manipuri language as an associate official language.

In a statement, the Assam CM explained that this decision was made to safeguard, preserve, and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity, and heritage of the Manipuri people residing in Assam.

Additionally, the Assam cabinet also sanctioned the introduction of six tribal languages—Mising, Rabha, Karbi, Tiwa, Deori, and Dimasa—as mediums of instruction in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.