New Delhi: A delegation from Fagun, a prominent Santali literary magazine, met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum seeking several measures for the development and standardization of Santali language education in India.
The delegation urged the Ministry of Education to ensure the use of the Ol Chiki script in all Santali-language textbooks, National Curriculum Framework-related materials, and other educational resources published by institutions such as NCERT, CBSE, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), and the National Translation Mission (NTM). According to the memorandum, the use of a uniform script is essential for strengthening Santali language education and preserving linguistic identity.
The memorandum also called for adequate representation of Santali language experts from the major Santali-speaking states of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Assam in national-level academic and language bodies. The delegation emphasized that inclusive representation would help ensure that policy decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of the wider Santali-speaking community.
Another significant demand concerned the use of the Ol Chiki script in national-level examinations. The delegation requested that candidates be allowed to use the script in examinations such as UGC-NET, CTET, and other competitive examinations conducted under the Ministry of Education from the academic session 2026–27 onwards. They argued that Santali candidates should have access to examination facilities in the constitutionally recognized script of their language.
The memorandum further highlighted concerns regarding the recruitment of Santali language teachers. It urged the government to consider candidates possessing undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Santali for teaching appointments, particularly in view of the limited availability of B.Ed programmes in the language. The delegation stated that qualified Santali scholars should not face barriers to employment due to the absence of adequate professional training opportunities.
Advocating the principle of “One Language, One Script,” the delegation maintained that Ol Chiki, the script specifically devised for the Santali language, should be uniformly adopted in educational and academic institutions to promote consistency and facilitate the growth of Santali literature and learning.
The representatives expressed hope that the Ministry of Education would take positive steps to address these issues and further strengthen the implementation of Santali language policies across the country.
The initiative has drawn appreciation from Santali writers, educators, and language activists, who view it as an important effort towards securing greater recognition and institutional support for the Santali language and the Ol Chiki script.
