Government to bodies: Develop websites in Hindi

On the directions of the Union government, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration has written to all its departments, local bodies, boards, institutions and the Delhi police to immediately develop their respective websites in Hindi.

The city government’s art and culture wing has also directed these departments to also have their respective nameplates, notice boards, rubber stamps, seals, manuals, logo signs, guidelines and literature related to Constitutional provisions in Hindi.

Reports suggest that several government departments have already stepped up the process of making their websites in Hindi. Many departments are said to be in the process of using Hindi for nameplates, rubber stamps, logos and other official usage. “It is mandatory for one and all to follow these instructions in letter and spirit,” a senior officer told this newspaper.

In separate letters to various departments, the art and culture wing has told the Delhi police to use Hindi in traffic and related instructions and other written material as well. One such letter pointed out that most of the departments under the AAP government were using only English for these usages which was contrary to the Raj Bhasha Rules of 1976.

Citing a letter issued on December 6, 2012, the art and culture department’s Hindi officer Suresh Kumar Sharma said that each wing of the government has to make its website in Hindi. He even quoted a letter of the Raj Bhasha department of the Union home ministry, which has issued clear instructions for every wing to develop their respective websites in Hindi.

The culture department’s letter said: “Please take steps to develop Hindi websites and for this steps should be taken without delay. Even inform us about the steps taken till now.”

The letter requested the heads of departments to immediately instruct their subordinates to strictly follow and implement these rules.