Use of Hindi

During the year various efforts were made to promote use of Hindi in the official work. Correspondences were made bilingually under Section 3(3) of Official Languages Act. Meetings of the Official Language Implementation Committee were held regularly. The Annual Report, Performance Budget, Demands for Grants, Monthly Summary for the Cabinet etc., were made bilingually.

Secretary, DOD, appeared before Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages on 12th July, 1995, for Oral Evidence. The performance of the Department regarding implementation of Hindi was highly appreciated by the members of the Committee.

The following books were published by the Department in Hindi during the year:

Mahasagariya Sansadhan

Capacity building for planning and management in coastal areas of South Asian Oceans (written by Shri J.V.R.Prasada Rao, Joint Secretary, DOD)

The book 'Mahasagar', written by Shri Madhusudhan Tripathi and Smt.Renu Tripathi, under Original Hindi Book Writing Scheme of the Department for the year 1993, was selected for the 3rd prize of Rs.10,000/-.

A two-day Hindi Seminar was organised at National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, on 28-29 November 1995, on the subject 'Oceanic Living Resources'. About 34 renowned scientists of various scientific institutions/ organisations participated in the seminar and read their papers in Hindi on the subject.

Hindi Fortnight was celebrated in the Department from 1st September to 14th September 1995, in which various competitions were organised. Non-Hindi speaking personnel also actively participated in these competitions. A five-day Hindi workshop was organised during that period. A prize distribution function was organised in which Secretary, DOD, awarded prizes and certificates to the participants.

Training in Hindi shorthand and typewriting was provided to the stenographers/typists of the Department.

Parliament Work

During the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Session of the Tenth Lok Sabha, 2 starred questions and 19 unstarred questions were admitted and answered. Similarly, during the 173rd , 174th, 175th and 176th sessions of the Rajya Sabha, 1 starred question and 9 unstarred questions were admitted and answered.

Parliamentary Standing Committee

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests met on 4th and 5th April 1995 and considered the Demands for Grants and Performance Budget for 1995-96.