Koshi to recognize Maithali, Limbu as official languages

KATHMANDU: The Koshi Province Government has registered a bill in the provincial assembly to recognize Limbu and Maithili as official languages in government offices.

The Bill has been introduced under Article 7(2) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, to ensure people’s linguistic rights. The provincial government moved forward with the bill after a similar private bill was rejected by the provincial assembly on Thursday.

Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki said the provincial government plans to formally adopt Maithali and Limbu as official languages on the birth anniversary of national luminary Falgunanda Lingden in October.

Karki also announced that both the provincial and local governments will allocate programs and budgets for the preservation and promotion of official working languages.

The Bill requires government offices to use or translate documents into the official working languages during official business. Once the bill is enacted, any legislation tabled in the provincial assembly must also include a translated copy in those languages. The Provincial Gazette will be published in both Nepali and the official languages.

For correspondence and public notices, offices must place the name and date in the official languages at the top of documents.

The government will also work to preserve other national languages alongside the official ones through education, literature, language, art, and communication programs, as well as research and studies. Local governments will be involved in protecting and developing these languages.

The provincial government will ensure that all national languages spoken in the region is taught and studied up to higher education.

Similarly, public offices will have to display a citizen charter or notice board in the official languages so they are clear and accessible to service seekers once the bill is enacted. Office signboards must also show the name in the script of the official languages.