Maithili to find place on currency notes

Source: TOI

Patna: In what could be music to the ears of Maithili speaking people, the language would now find a place on the Indian currency notes. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has directed the coins and currency division of RBI to take steps to include Maithili and four other languages - Manipuri, Santhali, Dogri and Bodo - on the currency notes

Of the 22 languages having been accorded official language status as per the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, only 17 had found a place on the Indian currency notes. The RBI had made display of all official languages on the currency notes mandatory. However, four new languages - Maithili, Santhali, Dogri and Bodo - which were included in the Eighth Schedule on January 8, 2004, had so far not found place on the currency notes.

Of the three languages included in Eighth Schedule in 1992 - Manipuri, Konkani and Nepali - only two languages found place on the currency notes.

"The currency note is the symbol of our sovereignty and pride. It goes without saying that all the languages which find a mention as 'official language' in our constitution, should be treated with equal respect and be given similar treatment including a place on our rupee note", the note said.

The PMO took the decision to include Maithili and other languages on the currency notes following repeated requests by Subhash Choudhary, a Maithili expert, to the Union finance minister and RBI governor. In a letter to the finance minister, Choudhary had requested inclusion of Maithili on rupee notes. The letter was later forwarded to the PMO for approval.

Talking to TOI over phone, Choudhary said, "Just before the Union budget, I met minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha and requested him to do the needful. Today, I received an e-mail from PMO in which it has been made clear that the coins and currency division of RBI has been asked to take appropriate steps in this regard."

Choudhary said the ancient language of Maithili has its own script known as "Tirhuta". He also made a request to the RBI to mention Maithili in its own script which will reflect the cultural excellence and plurality of the nation.

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