Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced today, January 16, that the state government is undertaking significant initiatives to promote and develop the Kokborok language.
Speaking during the third day of the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Dr. Saha highlighted the steps taken by the Department of Kokborok and Other Minority Languages to preserve and strengthen the language across the state.
Among the key projects is a language mapping initiative, aimed at identifying the linguistic profile of teachers and students in all schools across Tripura.
The Chief Minister explained that this mapping would provide critical insights into the status of Kokborok-speaking teachers and students, facilitating targeted efforts to improve Kokborok education. The project is expected to be completed soon.
Currently, Kokborok is taught as a subject in 1,163 schools at the primary level, 133 schools at the middle level, 115 schools at the secondary level, and 65 schools at the higher secondary level.
Additionally, the language has been introduced in Class I in 20 more schools starting from the academic year 2024–25. Textbooks for Classes IX to XII are provided free of cost, while textbooks for Classes I to VIII are being prepared, printed, and distributed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
Dr. Saha also shared that 59 literary works in Kokborok have been published by the department, including 26 books between 2018 and 2024. To further support Kokborok teachers, the department published a “Teacher’s Handbook” in 2022, covering teaching methodologies for Classes III to XII.
Efforts to enhance the language’s reach include organizing 34 workshops, seminars, and training programs since the department’s establishment in 2012. A three-day workshop held in July 2024 focused on expanding Kokborok vocabulary, demonstrating the government’s dedication to enriching the language’s resources.
Moreover, the second batch of an online Kokborok learning course will soon commence in a new digital classroom, while a separate course for professionals is being conducted at Umakanta Academy School in Agartala. These programs aim to make the language more accessible and encourage broader participation in learning Kokborok.
Dr. Saha reaffirmed the state’s commitment to preserving Kokborok, emphasizing that these initiatives will play a vital role in strengthening Tripura’s cultural and linguistic identity.
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