USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

8.1.1. Hindi is the Official Language of the Union. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is involved in promoting the use of Hindi in official work.

8.1.2. The Hindi Division of the Ministry undertakes work related to translation of the three departments under the Ministry viz. Department of Health, Department of Family Welfare and Department of Indian systems of medicine and Homoeopathy and' also the work relating to the implementation of official language policy of the Union in the Ministry and its attached/subordinate offices, public undertakings and other institutions under the Ministry.

8.1.3. More than 90 percent officers and employees of the Ministry possess working knowledge of Hindi and the Ministry is notified under rule 10(4) of the Official Language Rules, 1976.

8.1.4. During the year a number officials have been imparted training in Hindi under Hindi Teaching Scheme in order to see that they possess working knowledge of Hindi

8.1.5. Letters received in Hindi were replied to in Hindi and directions were issued to make maximum use of Hindi in official correspondence.

8.1.6. Action was taken regarding achieving the targets set in the Annual Programme of the year 1998-99 issued by the Department of Official Language. An incentive scheme for providing cash prizes for writing original notes and drafts in Hindi is in operation.

8.1.7. An Official Language Implementation Committee is functioning in the Ministry under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary in-charge of Hindi. The Hindi Advisory Committee of the Ministry is in the process of reconstitution under the chairmanship of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

8.1.8. A Hindi fortnight was observed in the Ministry from 14th to 28th September, 1998. On this occasion, the Union Health Secretary in his appeal to the officers and employees of the Ministry emphasised the need for maximum use of Hindi in the official work. A number of Hindi competitions were also organised during the Hindi fortnight. A number of Officers and staff members were selected in the hindi competitions for giving cash awards.

8.1.9. A scheme for promotion of the books originally written in Hindi or translated into Hindi on various medical and public health subjects is in operation under which the authors and translators of such books are awarded cash prizes by the Ministry.

8.1.10. As far as use of Hindi in the attached/ subordinate offices, public undertakings and autonomous institutions etc. under the Ministry is concerned, the Hindi Division of the Ministry monitors the progress by reviewing the quarterly progress reports of these offices. After review of the quarterly reports, short comings found therein are brought to the notice of the concerned offices and institution. Some of the offices were inspected to find out the position of use of Hindi.

8.1.11. The 3rd Sub-Committee of Committee of the Parliament on Official Language inspected the Regional office for Health & Family Welfare, Bangalore on 12-11-1998 in order to review use of Hindi.