CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government proposes to setup a National Institute of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture (NIPLLC) to promote mother tongue all over the world.

A proposal to this effect was came up at a meeting chaired by Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister, Punjab held here Wednesday.

Disclosing this Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab said that the meeting also considered the possibilities of starting an Open University for the preservation and promotion of Punjabi language, literature and culture globally.

The meeting also considered a proposal to start Certificate and Diploma courses in Punjabi in various professional spheres like Modern Office Practice, Translation, Dictionary, DTP, Software Development, Proof Reading, Journalism and Public Relations, News Reading, Stage Compeering, Radio Jokey, Film Direction, Producing and Script Writing, Folk and Culture and Diploma in Punjabi Dress Designing etc.

The institute would require various Departments/wings for its proper functioning like Computer and Language Laboratory, Translation and Comparative Studies, Immigrant and Diaspora Unit, Study Material Production Unit, Printing and Publication Unit and Administrative Wing.

In this meeting a Budget Committee was also been proposed to be setup to advise the state government on various aspects of the proposed institute.

The Education Minster Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that institute would be responsible for the holistic development of Punjabi language, literature and culture and would work for the needs and requirements of modern and post-modern generations.  It would be instrumental to build and strengthen ties for national integration also.

The proposed NIPLLC would also provide dissemination of culture through state of the art techniques. It would devise innovative plans and programs for the purpose. The institute would focus on employment oriented courses and skills especially in view of the use of the Punjabi being made compulsory in the administration and educational applications.  

Dr. Upinderjit Kaur added that the proposed institute would work as an autonomous professional cum academic unit. However, it would function in close coordination with the existing universities in the state. The institute would have an overall incharge in the rank of Director General enjoying the status of a Vice-Chancellor.

The meeting was attended among others by Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor Chief Minister, Punjab, Shatish Chandra, Secretary Planning, Smt. Anjli Bhawra, Secretary Higher Education, S. Jaspal Singh, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Balbir Kaur, Director, Language Department Punjab, Satnam Manak, Assistant Editor, Rozana Ajit Jalandhar, Dr. Satinder Singh, former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Dr. Amarjit Singh Kaang, Head Punjabi Department Kurukshetra University, Dr. Kapil Kapoor, former Director, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi and Dr. Janak Raj Gupta, former Director and Head Economics Department, Punjabi University, Patiala.