Efforts to Remove the Merely Nominal Status of ‘Marathi Language Officers’ in Government Offices !

Directorate of Languages to provide Marathi lessons to Marathi language officers

By Pritam Nachankar, Special Representative, Sanatan Prabhat

 Mumbai – According to the ‘Maharashtra Official Language Act 1964’, it is mandatory to have a Marathi Language Officer in every government office in the State; but this post, created by law to enrich the official language, has been neglected. Marathi language itself is neglected in all government offices in the State. Keeping this in mind, the Directorate of Marathi Language will make efforts to erase the merely ‘nominal’ identity of the ‘Marathi Language Officer’ post. For this, the Directorate of Marathi Language has taken the commendable decision to provide Marathi lessons to all Marathi Language Officers in all government offices in the State.

According to the ‘Maharashtra Official Language Act’, the post of Marathi Language Officer is mandatory in every government office, but in most government offices, the post has not been assigned to anyone. In those offices where this post has been assigned, it has only been a formality. Let alone the common citizens, even the officers and employees in the office do not know that such a post exists, nor is there a signboard in offices identifying the ‘Marathi Language Officer’.

Duties of a Marathi language officer

Pritam Nachankar

It is the job of the Marathi Language Officer to ensure that Marathi is being used properly in government offices. The responsibilities of the Marathi Language Officer include ensuring the use of Marathi in office communication, signatures, nameplates, mobile messages, remarks on files, and routine work such as notices and correspondence. If this is not happening in the concerned government office, it is the duty of the Marathi Language Officer to bring the matter to the notice of the head of the office. In reality, however, this has been neglected. The post of Marathi Language Officer itself is virtually absent.

Marathi workshops to be held in every District : Directorate of Marathi Language

Keeping in mind that the Marathi language can be effectively used in government offices only if the Marathi language officer is competent enough, the Directorate of Marathi Language has decided to strengthen this post. While informing the representative of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ about this, Arun Geete, Director of the Directorate of Marathi Language, said that Marathi language officers are expected to organize programs on Marathi language in government offices and also to address complaints regarding Marathi language. For this, workshops will be held in all the Districts of the State to make Marathi language officers aware of their duties and rights. A blueprint for the initiative has been prepared, and a proposal will soon be sent to the Marathi Language Department. The actual workshops will begin after the department grants approval and funds are provided.