By Preetam BC (PNI)

Kokrajhar: The North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) activists along with the students of Bodoland University and different colleges of Kokrajhar today held a protest demonstration against the discriminatory step of Central Government to not include Bodo language among the languages offered in the CTET exam.

Over a hundred students and NEFIS activists participated in the protest demonstration.

“Bodo language is included in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution, which lists the recognized major languages used by the people across the country. Exclusion of Bodo language from the CTET exam which includes 20 of 22 languages of the list amounts to a blatant attempt at discriminating against one of the most deprived communities of the country, said Hem Chandra Brahma, Member, Assam Unit, North-East Forum for International Solidarity.

“Important to note is the fact that most of the state government-run schools have local languages as medium of instruction. However, when the exams are conducted by the government agencies many of these languages are not allowed as an option. This is a measure which creates exclusion for majority of the applicants who have studied from government schools and belong to poor and deprived backgrounds, Brahma said adding “Moreover, it shows utter disregard of the central government for the students of marginalized backgrounds.

The NEFIS and students demands that all 8th scheduled and local languages that are medium of instruction in government schools across the country should be included as an option in all the All-India exams including CTET exam.

The NEFIS activists said it will continue the struggle in Delhi and pressurize the government to include all the 8th Schedule languages in the exams conducted by the government agencies.