Languages dept golden jubilee plan shot down

PATIALA, Oct 2: The Punjab Languages Department, set up by the Punjab government to promote and popularise Punjabi language in the state,...

PATIALA, Oct 2: The Punjab Languages Department, set up by the Punjab government to promote and popularise Punjabi language in the state, has been the worst hit by the acute resource crunch facing the state as the department8217;s proposal to celebrate its golden jubilee this year has been shot down by the Punjab government in view of the paucity of funds.

Sources said the department had sent a blueprint of the celebrations plan to the Education Department and it recently got a communication saying the proposal could not be accepted in view of the paucity of funds.

So hard has the Languages Department been hit by the resource crunch that the electricity supply to Bhasha Bhawan, housing its offices in Sheranwala Gate, was cut on September 28. Even the supply to the writers8217; home in the same complex was cut off.

According to sources, the Languages Department had not cleared outstanding power bills totalling about Rs 1.35 lakh over the past six months and hence, the disconnection. While supply to the main offices, where about 275 employees work, was restored yesterday, the supply to the writers8217; home was still disconnected. Writers8217; home is a guest house for artistes and authors and has about a dozen air-conditioned suites.

Sources revealed that the department has been making do on a shoe-string budget. All development projects have been put on hold or shelved. The ambitious plan to computerise the department, including the library located in the Bhasha Bhawan, has been shelved. The plan to have a printing press or composing section of the department has also been dropped in view of the resource crunch.

These sources said the Languages Department planned to bring out a directory of writers and also important publications to commemorate 50 years of its existence. It was envisaged to be a sort of ready reckoner for literary circles. But the plan had to be put on hold since the department has no funds for execution of the project.

The woes of the Languages Department seem to be increasing with each passing day. Most of its offices in districts, each headed by a district languages officer, are in rented buildings and the arrears of rent are mounting every month with no funds forthcoming to clear the dues. Some of these rented buildings may have to be vacated as in many cases, the rent had not been paid for almost a year now, a source in the department confided.

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The palatial building of the department, the Bhasha Bhawan, built in 1990 at a cost of about Rs 10 crore, presents a pathetic look. The upkeep of the building is suffering since even the Public Works Department, responsible for its maintenance, is facing shortage of funds. For the sprawling complex of the Bhasha Bhawan, there are only two sweepers and no wonder then that one gets put off by the unkempt floors and furniture. The reception of the main Bhasha Bhawan is untidy with torn sofa sets greeting the visitor.