The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Digital India Bhashini Division for the integration of the Khasi and Garo languages into the platform.
Bhashini is an Indian government project developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under its National Language Translation Mission. It aims to help Indian citizens translate content in various Indian languages and enable effective communication among different-language speakers across India, and thus reduce the language barrier in India.
Already implemented in 22 Indian languages, the inclusion of Garo and Khasi will now enable Meghalaya to join a select group of states making their indigenous languages digitally accessible across the nation.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who was present during the signing of the agreement said the initiative will have a profound impact across all aspects of society and governance, from grassroots communication to enhancing tourism, entrepreneurship, education, and healthcare.
“This initiative will revolutionize how government departments communicate and engage with citizens. It will open new opportunities for entrepreneurs and help in making governance more inclusive and effective. I encourage everyone to use technology to forward job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” the Chief Minister said.
He said while technology will facilitate overcoming challenges, it is critical to preserve the essence of indigenous languages and cultures.
Discussions are also ongoing to explore deeper historical and cultural connections between the tribes of Meghalaya and those in other regions such as Myanmar and Cambodia, he informed.
As part of the initial implementation, a State Language Mission for Bhashini has been constituted under the leadership of the Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang. The mission will ensure seamless integration, research, and the continued development of digital resources for Garo and Khasi languages, including the incorporation of distinct alphabets and dialectical nuances.
CEO Digital India Bhashini Division, Amitabh Nag and Commissioner Secretary, IT Department Pravin Bakshi signed the MoU for implementation of the initiative in the presence of Art and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh, members of the Khasi Literature Society and A’chik Literature Society.
