New Delhi, Feb 20 (NationPress) - The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, is set to inaugurate the Joint Regional Official Language Conference (Rajbhasha Sammelan) in Agartala on Friday, focusing on the Eastern, North-Eastern, and Northern regions of India.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) Department of Official Language, Anshuli Arya, highlighted that over 3,000 senior officials, representatives, and experts from Central government offices, public sector undertakings, and banks from these regions are expected to participate in the conference.

Officials and representatives from approximately 20 states will join this inaugural event in Tripura, marking it as the first of its kind.

Participating states include West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand from the Eastern region; Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim from the North-Eastern region; along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh from the Northern region.

Arya indicated that advancements in artificial intelligence and modern technologies will be instrumental in tackling language-related challenges.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are known for their commitment to using straightforward Hindi for the public's benefit. The Union Home Minister also employs the official language of the respective states in his correspondence.

The Union government consistently emphasizes the importance of utilizing Hindi along with 22 other Indian languages, including regional languages, to fortify the nation’s cultural heritage.

To promote the extensive use of Hindi and other Indian languages, the Department of Official Language under the MHA has initiated various programs.

The official clarified that there is no intention to impose Hindi as a major language over local or other Indian languages.

During the conference, 80 Regional Official Language Awards for 2024-25 will be conferred to Central government offices, banks, and undertakings for their exemplary adherence to the Official Language Policy.

Additionally, selected City Official Language Implementation Committees will receive the Nagar Rajbhasha Karyanvayan Samiti (NARAKAS) Rajbhasha Samman.

Arya noted that awardees are chosen based on quarterly reports submitted through the official information management system, and they will be honored with certificates and shields.

The inaugural session will also feature the launch of the Northeast Special Issue of Rajbhasha Bharati, produced by the Department of Official Language.

Moreover, the books titled Indian Languages and the Official Language Hindi – Timeless Works and Timeless Inspiring Verses of Amritvani Sanskrit will be unveiled on this occasion.

An exhibition highlighting innovations, best practices, and efforts related to the implementation of the official language will be organized at the venue by various banks, literary institutions, and other organizations.

Furthermore, a yoga session aimed at encouraging a healthy and stress-free lifestyle among officials is scheduled for Thursday, featuring simple asanas, pranayama, and stress management exercises guided by experienced instructors.

The Department of Official Language was established as an independent entity on June 26, 1975, to ensure effective implementation of constitutional provisions regarding Hindi, the Union's official language in the Devanagari script.

Every financial year, the Department organizes four regional official language conferences to assess progress and promote the use of Hindi in official activities.

This event will be the second joint regional conference for the financial year 2025–26, following the initial one held at Devi Ahilya University in Indore.