By Preetam BC (PNI)

Kokrajhar: Hundreds of students from various institutions in Kokrajhar and North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) activists today carried out a protest rally against the non-inclusion of 8th scheduled Bodo language in the CTET exam which is being conducted by CBSE.

The rally started from Kokrajhar Government College to Children Park near Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner office through the street of Kokrajhar town via College road- RNB road-Civil Line.

A ,memorandum was submitted to the chairpersons, Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) through the Office of Kokrajhar Deputy commissioner for necessary action for immediate inclusion of Bodo language as a medium of examination in the CTET being conducted by the CBSE.

They demands that the Bodo language along with 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.

“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 adding “The CBSE should ensure that no discrimination based on the language of the applicant takes place”.

Important to note is the fact that most of the state government-run schools have local languages as medium of instruction across the country. It should be noted that 8th scheduled Bodo language was instituted as a medium of instruction at the primary level in 1963. It was recognized by UPSC and APSC in 2005 and it is recognized by UGC in the NET exam and by the State Government of Assam in the SLET exam. “However, in the CTET exam which is being conducted by the CBSE it is not allowed as a medium of examination. 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. Moreover, it shows utter disregard of the central government for the students of marginalized backgrounds, said activist and social worker Raju Narzary participating in the rally.

NEFIS also held a protest demonstration on the issue in Delhi and a memorandum was submitted to Union HRD Minister iPrakashJavadekar.

NEFIS activists threatens to further intensify  its struggle if its demands are not immediately met.