Minister Shrestha Emphasizes Need to Enhance Effectiveness of Investments in Language Preservation

April 5, Kathmandu – Suresh Shrestha, Minister for Culture and Tourism of Bagmati Province, has stressed the necessity of demonstrating the effectiveness of government investments made for the preservation and promotion of languages. Speaking at an interactive program organized on the occasion of Language Day, he revealed that the provincial government has spent millions of rupees on the development of languages spoken within the province. However, he noted that the returns on this investment have not been satisfactory.

Minister Shrestha highlighted that the provincial government is making all possible efforts to protect languages and culture. He emphasized that language promotion programs should not be limited to mere formalities; rather, all stakeholders must collaborate closely to achieve tangible results. He argued that continuous investment by the state will be futile if the younger generation does not learn their native languages, likening such a scenario to “throwing water on sand.” He also underscored the importance of focusing on language education at home, in communities, and in schools.

Shrestha advocated for comprehensive data collection and evaluation to assess how many individuals have learned the languages and scripts as a result of the ministry’s investments. He mentioned that Newa and Tamang languages have been established as official languages in Bagmati Province, but the formulation of related legal provisions has been delayed. Although the government planned to issue the language regulation rules on April 7, repeated holidays have hindered timely implementation.

Nonetheless, the minister pledged that the regulations will be introduced shortly. He further disclosed ongoing efforts to establish a dedicated academy within Bagmati Province. The provincial government remains fully prepared to collaborate with various institutions to promote languages and plans to discuss allocating additional budget in the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.

He concluded by stating, “The Bagmati Province Government has invested millions of rupees for languages. What have we achieved so far? Organizations like Newa Dey Dubh and Tamang Ghedung have fought hard to sustain their languages and have succeeded in establishing them as official provincial languages. The ministry is committed to exerting its best efforts to promote languages and preserve culture in Bagmati Province.”