To strictly implement the provisions of Punjabi Language Act, the Punjab Government will constitute a State Language Commission.
Announcing this on Monday, the state Education, Higher Education, and Languages Minister Pargat Singh also called upon all the writers, journalists, academics, and educationists to come forward so that they could be included in the commissions and committees for the appropriate implementation of the Punjabi Language Act at the State and district level.
Pargat Singh, speaking on the topic of ‘Challenges to Punjabi Language and Journalism’ organized by Punjab and Chandigarh Journalists Union in association with Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and Punjab Kala Parishad at Punjab Kala Bhawan to mark the National Press Day, said that the libraries will also be set up adjoining sports stadiums and grounds by issuing ordinance of the Library Act to bolster literary culture among the youth of the State.
Paying rich tributes to the great Ghadar Movement martyrs Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and his six companions — Shaheed Bakhshish Singh, Shaheed Surain Singh (elder), Shaheed Surain Singh (younger), Shaheed Harnam Singh and Shaheed Vishnu Ganesh Pingale — who were martyred in first Lahore conspiracy case on this day, Pargat Singh said that Shaheed Sarabha was also a role model for journalists as he used to publish Ghadar newspaper.
“Press is the fourth pillar of democracy and Punjabi journalism played a vanguard role in the development of Punjab,” he said.
The Minister added that out of 23 District Language Officers in Punjab, 21 posts were vacant which have now been filled on deputation.