Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has requested Centre to include Bhoti language, commonly spoken amongst people living in lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Killar (Pangi) tribal belt of Chamba districts of the State in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
In a letter written to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Chief Minister said that Bhoti language is popular in the tribal belt of the State.
He said that the total population of Bhoti speaking community in the Himalayan States of India was over 16 lakh and the population of Bhoti speaking community in Himachal Pradesh was about 3,15,000, mostly 100 per cent in tribal areas. Virbhadra said that State Government had constituted a committee for the introduction of Bhoti language in the schools of lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi districts and Pangi and the State Government had already introduced Bhoti language in the schools in lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu districts.
Singh said that with the inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India would not only get its due recognition but also fulfil the aspirations of the tribal population living in remote areas of the country.