Mysore, Apr. 21 (KVV&KK)- A Centre of Excellence will be set up in Mysore city for the study of classical Kannada language. Scholars have shown interest to set up the proposed centre at the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) on Hunsur Road.

Secretary to the Department of Kannada & Culture Jayarama-raje Urs said that a proposal in this regard would be forwarded to the Central government for due consideration.

He was speaking at the consultative committee meeting held at CIIL here yesterday. He said that the Centre had informed the State government about the release of grants to classical languages and had approved to chalk out programmes accordingly. In this backdrop, an action plan would be submitted to the Central government shortly, he said and added that the scholars of Kannada language had given valuable suggestions in this regard.

The proposed centre would function in Mysore for a period of three years and later on shifted to some other place, he said and added that there was another possibility of converting the proposed centre a statutory body in line with Tamil language.

He further said that Study Centres would be set up in all Universities across the nation for the study of Kannada language. Other major tasks include preparation of dictionaries, starting diploma courses to study old Kannada, preparation of code-word dictionary, taking up survey work to know the number of Kannadigas residing in other States, conducting summer camps to teach old Kannada etc.

He disclosed that the Central government had fixed a grant of Rs. 150 lakh to take up supplementary programmes for the study of classical languages.

Urs assured that the State government was following all guidelines issued by the Central government in this regard.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore