BJD Demands Inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Kui, Saora Languages in 8th Schedule of Constitution

New Delhi: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra on Friday raised the demand for the inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Kui and Saora languages in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, in the Rajya Sabha in a special mention.

He reiterated that the Odisha Government and the State Cabinet have passed unanimous resolutions for the inclusion of these languages in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He requested the Government of India to consider inclusion of these tribal languages in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution.

Representing the stand of the Biju Janata Dal, the Rajya Sabha member said that language is extremely important as an ethnic identity and with a Scheduled Tribe population of over 22.85 percent in Odisha, with 62 tribal communities and including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), the inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Kui and Saora languages in go a long way in fulfilling the long-standing demands of the tribal people of Odisha.