Panchayat Samities Mandate Use of Nepali Language on Signboards and Official Documents

KalimNews, March 25, 2025, Kolkata: The Kurseong Panchayat Samity and Gorubathan Panchayat Samity have issued official directives mandating the use of the Nepali language in government offices, signboards, and hoardings within their respective jurisdictions.

Anu Pradhan, Sabhapati of the Kurseong Panchayat Samity, emphasized the importance of Nepali in local governance and daily life. She stated that all establishments, including shops, business institutions, offices, schools, restaurants, hotels, homestays, hospitals, and dispensaries, must ensure that Nepali is prominently displayed at the top of all signboards and hoardings, alongside other languages.

Similarly, the Executive Officer of Gorubathan Panchayat Samity has issued a parallel directive reinforcing the same regulation.

Sobhan Das, Block Development Officer and Executive Officer of Gorubathan Panchayat Samity, has officially signed an order in the Nepali script reinforcing this mandate. The order, in line with the GTA's directive issued on September 3, 2024, and later approved by the Panchayat Samity. 

The order of the Gorubathan Panchayat Samity instructs all government offices, educational institutions, businesses, hospitals, hotels, homestays, and restaurants to display Nepali at the top of their signage and hoardings.

Nepali is recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and is the predominant language spoken in the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) region. The directive aims to promote and preserve the language, following the guidelines issued by the GTA. 

In accordance with these instructions, Panchayat Samities of Kurseong and Gorubathan have set April 30 and April 26, 2025 respectively, as the deadline for compliance.

"Nepali is the identity of the Gorkha community. Merely obtaining constitutional recognition is not enough; its widespread usage ensures its growth and preservation," stated the directive.