5 days ago
Kerala Legislators Protest Hindi Use at Women’s Commission Workshop
The National Commission for Women held a workshop for women legislators in Faridabad.
More than 100 women legislators from different parts of India attended.
Eight legislators from Kerala left the meeting because they said everything was conducted only in Hindi.
They asked for English to be used so they could understand the discussions.
Kerala leaders said their requests were not addressed.
Minister Bindhu Krishna also said Kerala representatives were invited onto the stage but were not allowed to speak.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan criticized the use of Hindi at a national event.
The National Commission for Women has not yet given its response.
Eight UDF legislators from Kerala boycotted a National Commission for Women workshop held on September 7 and 8 in Faridabad.
The legislators said the two-day programme was conducted exclusively in Hindi, preventing them from fully participating.
Kerala Minister Bindhu Krishna said requests to use English were ignored and that the NCW chairperson did not resolve the issue.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan accused the Centre of imposing Hindi and said national forums should respect India’s linguistic diversity.
The National Commission for Women has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.
- Who
- More than 100 women legislators attended; eight UDF legislators from Kerala walked out, with criticism from Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Minister Bindhu Krishna.
- What
- A language dispute followed a National Commission for Women workshop on gender-responsive governance for women legislators.
- Where
- Taj Surajkund Resort in Faridabad, in the Delhi NCR.
- When
- The workshop was held on September 7 and 8; the boycott and subsequent criticism were reported three days later.
- Why
- Kerala legislators said the sessions were conducted exclusively in Hindi and that requests to use English were not addressed.
Kerala Legislators’ View
National Commission for Women’s Position
Language of the workshop
Kerala Legislators’ View
Kerala legislators said all sessions were in Hindi and requested that English also be used so representatives from South India could participate.
National Commission for Women’s Position
The National Commission for Women had not publicly responded to the allegations about the workshop’s language arrangements.
Treatment of delegates
Kerala Legislators’ View
Kerala representatives alleged that they were invited to sit on the dais but were not allowed to speak, and that their concerns were not addressed.
National Commission for Women’s Position
The commission had not provided a public account of the programme or responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
Meaning of the dispute
Kerala Legislators’ View
V D Satheesan described the incident as Hindi being forced at a national conclave and said constitutional equality and linguistic diversity should guide national forums.
National Commission for Women’s Position
No direct response from the Centre or the National Commission for Women was included in the report.
Key facts
- Organizer
- National Commission for Women
- Programme
- ‘She is a Changemaker’ initiative
- Workshop topic
- Gender-responsive governance for women legislators
- Dates
- September 7 and 8
- Location
- Taj Surajkund Resort, Faridabad, Delhi NCR
- Attendance
- More than 100 women legislators
- Walkout
- Eight UDF legislators from Kerala
- Official response
- The National Commission for Women had not responded to the row at the time of reporting.
Quotes
Bindhu Krishna
Kerala minister for Labour, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Milk Co-operatives, Women and Child Development
“Just before the function, we were invited to sit on the dais but were not allowed to speak. All sessions were in Hindi. As we are from South India, we requested that English also be used so we could understand, but nobody listened.”
indianexpress.com
“Forcing Hindi at a national conclave and intimidating delegates from non-Hindi-speaking states strikes at the core of our constitutional compact.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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