GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Ministry of Human Resource Development DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

 RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1933 ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2014

 QUESTION Endangered Languages in Karnataka

 Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state;

(a)   the details of endangered languages identified in Karnataka which are flagged for attention, region-wise;

(b)   whether Government is aware that nearly 17 non-tribal, non-scheduled languages spoken in Karnataka have not been brought on record in the census statistics and are facing the threat of becoming extinct; and

(c)    If so, the remedial action taken by Government to ensure these languages doesn’t become extinct?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR.SHASHI THAROOR)

(a): According to the UNESCO list of endangered languages in India, the following languages/mother tongues of Karnataka are endangered: Badaga which is also spoken in Tamil Nadu, Bellari, Kodagu, Koraga and Tulu. The following languages/mother tongues have been identified to be documented by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) Mysore.

Kuruba                         Mysore district Hakkipikki                    Nomads- spread across Karnataka Toda                            In and around Nilgiri Hills Kota                             In and around Nilgiri Hills Koraga                        Udipi, Mangalore and Kollegala regions Soliga                          Mysore, Hunsur and Chamrajnagar districts Bellara/Bellari            Udipi district Kutia/Kudla                 Chikamagalur, Udipi and Kodagu district.

 (b) and (c): The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as "Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India". Under this Scheme, the CIIL will document all the tribal, non-tribal and non-scheduled languages/mother tongues of Karnataka spoken by less than ten thousand persons. The Institute has already started working on documentation of three languages/mother tongues of Karnataka, namely, Hakkipikki, Kuruba/Kurumba and Kutiya/Kudiya. The CIIL, in collaboration with the Tribal Research Institute, Karnataka, has further initiated the documentation of six of the mother tongues/languages of Karnataka, namely, Asalaru, Siddi, Iruliga, Malaikudiya, Maratta and Tokri Koli, in the current financial year.