JK Urdu Promotion Council to be set up shortly: Drabu

The Jammu and Kashmir government will set up the JK Urdu Promotion Council for development and promotion of the language in the state shortly, PDP minister Haseeb Drabu said today.
The state Minister for Finance and Culture informed the Legislative Council that the recommendations of the High Level Committee constituted to look into promotion of Urdu would be implemented shortly.
Replying to a question by PDP member Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in the Upper House, Drabu said the Committee, headed by Chief Secretary M I Khanday, has already submitted its recommendations.
He said as per the recommendations, an Urdu Academy will be constituted on lines of the premier J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

The minister stated that the Committee also highlighted the work done by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in promoting Urdu.
"The Committee observed thatthe Academy of Art, Culture and Languages established in 1958 is activelyworkingforthe promotion of various languages enshrined in the 6th schedule of theConstitution of J&K, including Urdu.

"The Academy comes out with publications, conducts conferences, seminars, memorial lectures, poetic symposia, short story sessions, workshops and annual Urdu Mushairas for promoting the state's official language," Drabu said.
He said the Academy was also providing subsidy to authors for publications of their books in Urdu and various regional languages.

The PDP leader said an award has been introduced for best Urdu books to promote quality literature, while the Academy also provides financial assistance to authors in indigent circumstances.
"The Academy also holds writers' camps and conducts three year course in calligraphy," he added.
Legislator Mohammad Khurshid Alam suggested that Urdu be taught in schools as a compulsory subject.