Where is the Rs 18 Cr earmarked for Manipuri language ? RTI quest finds no clear cut answer

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 8: Even as the Manipuri language was given a snub when five new languages were classified as Classical language recently, a response to an RTI application has now cast doubt on a declaration, Chief Minister N Biren Singh made in August this year about the Centre earmarking Rs 18 crore for language development of the language.
When the RTI application sought the information on the Rs 18 crore earmarked for promotion of Manipuri language, the response, surprisingly, said, "No formal communication is received till date on the requested information by the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Manipur."
As the RTI response shows, the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation which oversees development of the Manipur language doesn't have any knowledge or information on the Rs 18 crore "earmarked" by the Centre.
Notably, in August this year, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, reportedly, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving due recognition to the Manipuri language and its script by "allocating a fund of Rs 18 crore as 1st instalment" for conservation and promotion.
The Chief Minister, then had also appreciated  Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba for his relentless efforts to elevate the status of the Manipur language as a Classical language.
Then, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba too had written and posted the news about the Rs 18 crore on X.
On X, the Rajya Sabha MP wrote, “Modi Govt allocates Rs 18 crore as 1st instalment to promote our language Manipuri & script recognising the use of this language & script more than 2000 yrs in our Royal Chronicles.”
The MP was then hopeful that the Manipuri language would achieve Classical status.
Meanwhile, the RTI application filed with the State Public Information Officer sought information and asked if the State Government has received the amount of Rs 18 crore said to have been released by the Central Government as the 1st instalment for promotion of Manipuri language and script.
It also sought details of programmes/projects implemented in case the Rs 18 crore has been received.
The response to the application, furnished by the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, plainly said--"No formal communication is received till date on the requested information by the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Manipur."