Imagine being a Punjabi living in a small block of Asansol City, West Bengal, 2,000 km away from Punjab, where your community makes up just 10% of the local population.
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Imagine being a Punjabi living in a small block of Asansol City, West Bengal, 2,000 km away from Punjab, where your community makes up just 10% of the local population. You need to file an FIR but don’t know Bengali.
Worried? Don’t be!
Here in Bengal, we pride ourselves not only on our rich cultural sweetness but also on our legal inclusiveness.
Any Official would not deny citing he does not understand Punjabi, as you are legally entitled for an interpreter.The onus to translate would be on local officials.
As per the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012. Any language is an official one if it is spoken by a population exceeding 10 per cent of the whole in a particular block or sub-division or a district and thereby make communication easier with the administration.
Consequently, Bengal has 13 Official Languages
• Bengali • English • Nepali • Urdu • Hindi • Odia • Santali • Punjabi • Kamtapuri • Rajbanshi • Kurmali • Kurukh • Telugu
Isn't this the best Language Policy that celebrates Indian unity in diversity? Proud of our culture and language yet equally respecting others rights for the same!