Urdu should be linked to livelihood, says Union minister

The Centre does not want Urdu to remain confined to 'Mushairas' but it wants the language to be linked to livelihood, Union minister Jitin Prasada said today.
The Union minister of state for HRD rued that schemes related to the development of Urdu have failed to provide job opportunities to the people.
"For the government, success of scheme lies in creation of employment opportunities... If schemes related to development of Urdu do not provide jobs and livelihood it clearly means that they are not achieving their target," the minister said at a programme organised by National Council for Promotion of Urdu language here.

"We chalk out schemes for the promotion of Urdu and crores of rupees are also spent on them but these schemes should to be taken to the ground level," the minister said.
Terming Urdu as a culture, the minister said that the central government does not want Urdu to remain confined to'Mushiaras' and other such platforms but instead wants it to link with livelihood.
On the importance of Urdu, he said that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Maharashtra to Bengal, it has a sizable participation amid various traditions.

Referring to the recommendations of Sachchar committee, Prasada said that it was the duty of the government to provide opportunities to those who have been left behind due to difficult circumstances.

Prasada told representatives of National Council for Promotion of Urdu language and non-government organisations that only highlighting the shortcomings in efforts to promote the language would not suffice, and they will also have to talk about the required remedies.
The minister assured that in case of shortcomings in the schemes, fundamental changes would be made in them.
On the occasion, Wasim Barelvi, the vice chairman of the Council said that a lot of work was being done by the council for the promotion of the language but much more is required to be done.