The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : His heart beats for Telugu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

His heart beats for Telugu

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The next time an official file in English comes back to any Government department in Nizamabad district it would certainly have a stamp marked in Telugu.

"File sent back because not written in Telugu" is the stamp marked on all files sent to the Collector in English. By doing so Collector D. V. Raidu has set in motion a movement to promote Telugu in the day-to-day functioning of Government departments.

"I will not hesitate to send back any file if it is sent in English", Mr. Raidu firmly said after receiving the State-level award for effective implementation of Telugu in official use from Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Trendsetter

The firm remarks on the file have given enough indication to Government employees working in various departments that the Collector is serious about the implementation of Telugu in official use. It is not surprising that more than 177 offices in the district started strictly enforcing use of Telugu.

Visitors to Government offices in the district are greeted with a signboard in Telugu.

The rubber stamp on files and other correspondence also reflects the use of the rich language. Explanation is sought from officials if they are not using Telugu in their correspondence.

Mr. Raidu told The Hindu that implementation of Telugu at village level was 98 per cent while it was 96 per cent in mandals. From 28 per cent in the district headquarters in 2004 today 80.55 per cent of the work was being done in Telugu.

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