Minister for Finance and Culture, Dr Haseeb Drabu today informed the Legislative Council that the recommendations of the High Level Committee constituted to look into the issue regarding promotion of Urdu language, including establishment of J&K Council for Promotion of Urdu would be implemented shortly. Giving details, he said a high level Committee headed by Chief Secretary was set up to look into the issue which has already submitted its recommendations. Replying to a question by Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in the Upper House, the Minister said that the High Level Committee besides other recommendations also advocated for setting up of J&K Council for promotion of Urdu. He said the recommendations of the Committee would be implemented shortly.The Minister said that constitution of Urdu Academy in the State would be a parallel institution to replicate what an established organization J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is doing, since its inception in 1958. He said the establishment of “Jammu and Kashmir State Council for Promotion of Urdu" is recommended to achieve the desired result in the promotion of the State’s official language.
The Minister said that high level Committee also observed that Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is actively working for the promotion of various languages enshrined in the 6th schedule of the Constitution of J&K including Urdu. He said for promotion of Urdu language, the Cultural Academy undertakes publications, conducts conferences, seminars and memorial lectures, poetic symposia, short story sessions, workshops and Annual Urdu Mushairas. He said the Academy is also providing subsidy to authors for publications of their books in Urdu and various regional languages.Dr Drabu said that best book Award has been introduced to promote quality literature, while academy is also providing financial assistance to authors in indigent circumstances. "The Academy holds state Writers camps and conducts three year course in Calligraphy," he added.Legislators Mohammad Khurshid Alam in his supplementary question suggested that Urdu be taught in schools as compulsory subject.