Gadchiroli officials learn tribal dialect

The Gadchiroli district administration has published a book to train over 600 of its officials in the Madia Gondi tribal dialect to help them communicate better with the locals.

Called Madia Gondi Bhasha Margadarshika, the book was released last week. The officials are expected to be well-versed with the dialect in three months.

Currently, around 350 of them are taking lessons from 24 teachers in Aheri, Etapalli, Bhamragarh and Dhanora tehsils that have the maximum number of people knowing only Madia Gondi.

The District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) is coordinating the programme.

"Lack of understanding of the local language has been one of the major stumbling blocks in communicating with locals. Hence we have drawn up Madia Gondi Bhasha Prashikshan Kruti Karyakram where over 600 Class III employees belonging to various departments are learning the basics of the local language," Gadchiroli Collector Abhishek Krishna told The Indian Express on Tuesday.

The issue of language problem had come up at a meeting last year in Mumbai, Krishna said. "Chief Secretary J K Banthi had expressed the thought that something should be done to address the problem," Krishna added.

The book contains lessons on the script as well as familiarises officials with daily-use words as well as those that may come up during a conversation on agriculture, health and educational matters. There are chapters on Gondi numbering and dates and days, plus tribal culture and traditions.

"This will now be a regular programme in Gadchiroli. Whosoever gets transferred to or appointed in Gadchiroli will have to learn the language," Krishna said.

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