City Correspondent
GUWAHATI, Feb 4: The Assam Sahitya Sabha today organised an interactive programme with several literary organisations of the State at its Singhapurush Radha Govinda Baruah Auditorium here.
Presidents, general secretaries and representatives of the Mising Sahitya Sabha, Garo Sahitya Sabha, Khilanjia-Janajatiya Sahitya Sabha, Bodo Sahitya Sabha and Dimasa Sahitya Sabha attended the programme.
Assam Sahitya Sabha president Kuladhar Saikia said that the interactive programme mainly focused on the issues faced by the literary organisations in terms of language and culture and seeking a development prospective in this regard.
“The Assam Sahitya Sabha is interested in working towards the development of languages and cultures of different indigenous communities of the State. The Sabha has already taken steps like translation work, digitisation, etc. It is high time to work unitedly and strengthen the bonding among the communities. The representatives present at the programme provided their valuable insight which will be helpful in forming policies and schemes for the welfare of the indigenous communities of Assam,” Saikia said.
“A charter of demands was also adopted during the discussion. We demand of the State government to set up a central library with state-of-the-art facilities for preserving the books published in different languages,” he added.
Saikia further said that the literary organisations urged the State government to improve the infrastructure of the mother tongue medium schools of the State and to implement the new educational policy in its totality.
The organisations also urged the government to undertake a recruitment policy that would ensure hundred per cent job guarantee to the indigenous youths of the State.
They also urged the government to preserve the traditional knowledge possessed by the different indigenous communities of Assam.
“Cultural and literary exchange is possible through translation of best books of Assamese language into other indigenous languages of Assam and vice versa. The Sabha will take more steps in this regard and I urge the representatives of the organisations to take similar initiatives,” Saikia said.
The representatives present at the programme also proposed carrying out a language survey across the State.
Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Toren Bodo praised the Asam Sahitya Sabha for organising the interactive programme. He said, “We are hopeful of getting continuous support from the Assam Sahitya Sabha as the parental literary organisation of the State in solving core issues faced by the indigenous tribes of Assam.”
The Assam Sahitya Sabha also announced that a cultural programme titled Sampriti would be organised across the State from February 10.
