DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): The Tikhir Students’ Union (TSU) has demanded the inclusion of its mother tongue in the school curriculum.
A press statement from the TSU while appreciating the move of the Nagaland State Government to implement mother tongues at primary and elementary school levels, however demanded equal opportunity for all indigenous Nagas.
“Tikhir is a tribe inhabited in the Kiphire and Tuensang districts of eastern part of Nagaland having its unique entity since time immemorial. Inhabiting 27 villages with no less than 30,000 population,all the villages speak the same Tikhir language. When concerned about the future of our young children, it is felt necessary that they go at par with other Naga children,” the TSU stated.
It questioned “if the decision of the state is implemented in some part and not in our part?” “Negligence exists because the small tribe like ours is left without any voice due to mal-approach from the counterparts.This may create a larger gap between Tikhir children and others,” it added.
“While the authority is encouraging all Naga tribesand sub-tribes to develop textbooks with approval from SCERT Nagaland, Tikhirs are still demanding and waiting for a good response from the concerned authority allowing Tikhirs to develop their own textbooks,” the TSU stated.
It therefore appealed to the State Government that “no other textbooks except Tikhir’s be brought at in Tikhir jurisdiction when Tikhir Literature Board is ready to develop the curriculum once the authority approves.”
“If Tikhir children are neglected by providing other language textbooks, protest against the ill treatment may arise,” it cautioned.
