Ek Bharat Scheme introduces Telugu in Amritsar, Raises concerns
The teaching of Telugu language in schools in Amritsar has been started under the central government's 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat' scheme. While officials believe that the initiative is beneficial for students, teachers see it as an additional burden. The aim of teaching Punjabi to students of Punjab and Punjabi to students of the south is to promote diversity.
In Amritsar, government schools have started teaching the Telugu language to students. This initiative is part of the central government's "Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat" program, aimed at promoting language exchange among students from different states. Under this scheme, rather than teaching Telugu to Punjab students, Punjabi is being taught to students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Nonetheless, disagreements have emerged among educators about this new initiative. While the authorities view it as beneficial for the future, teachers' unions argue that students are already burdened with three languages, making the addition of a fourth language unreasonable.
Language exchange as part of Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat
The 'Bharatiya Bhasha Sambhava Summer Camp,' organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, has initiated a programme. From May 26 to June 5, 2025, students from grades 6 to 10 will be introduced to the Telugu language.
Harbhagwant Singh Waraich, the District Education Officer of Amritsar, reported that the language is being taught online. Officials think that understanding this significant South Indian language might aid students in future regional opportunities.
Many students are also excited about the Telugu language, as some teachers noted that children are eager to learn it and are practicing independently. Nonetheless, teachers believe it should be limited to activities like summer camps to prevent it from becoming an undue burden on the students.
Opposition to the Democratic Teachers' Front
Ashwini Awasthi, state secretary of the Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF), expressed concerns about the initiative, arguing that students are already learning three languages: Punjabi, Hindi, and English. Introducing a fourth language could compromise the quality of education and impact students' mental wellbeing. He also claimed that this additional responsibility is adding to the mental strain on teachers, especially in schools already dealing with staff shortages.