As many as 38 languages, including Chhattisgarhi, have been entangled in the wait for inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The BJP in power in the State, in its election manifesto had promised to make every effort to include Chhattisgarhi in the Schedule. The important question raised is that whether Chhattisgarhi would be included in the 8th Schedule if the NDA forms Government at the Centre. Recently, the issue of languages pending to be included in the 8th Schedule had been raised in the Rajya Sabha. In his written answer, Union Home Minister, had said that 38 languages, including Angika, Banjara, Bajika, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhotiya, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, English, Garhwali, Gondi, Nagpuri, Sambalpuri, Rajasthani, Pali, Pahadi, Magahi etc were waiting to be included in the 8th Schedule.
He said that in 2003, a committee of language specialists had been constituted to prepare a set of examination and criterion on the proposals for including more languages in the 8th schedule. The committee has been discussing with all the concerned parties for the preparation of the set of criterion. Only after preparation of the set, a decision would be taken for the inclusion of languages in the schedule. Many States, including Chhattisgarh, have been making efforts to include their languages in the schedule.