President calls for speedier development of IT software applications in Hindi

Canara Bank bags ‘Indira Gandhi Rajbhasa Shield’

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Sept 15: Giving a clarion call for accelerated development of software applications in Hindi, President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil underlined the need for facilitating the access of the citizens of the country to latest IT-tools like ‘Shrutlekhan’ (conversion from speech to text), and ‘Machine-Assisted Translation’ (MANTRA) for Hindi-users to ensure speeder spread of Hindi.

At the global level, the use of Hindi has been spurred by an increasing number of Universities taking up teaching and learning of Hindi, and by the celebration of World Hindi Day by the Government of India on 10th January every year.

Speaking at function here to mark the Hindi Day, the President made a fervent appeal for increased use of Hindi and other regional languages in day-to-day official work, and-for gaining proficiency in at least one Indian language in addition to one’s mother tongue.

Dr. Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat, the President’s spouse also graced the occasion. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram presided over the function. The Ministers of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran and Jitendra Singh also graced the occasion. The event was organised by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.

The event saw the participation by officers of the level of Secretary/ Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary, Government of India, Chairmen and Managing Directors of Public Sector Undertakings/Corporations, Chairmen and Managing Directors of nationalized Banks, eminent Hindi writers and scholars and a galaxy of other distinguished persons.

In his remarks Home Minister P. Chidambaram, observed that Hindi has played a vital role in harmonizing of diverse cultural and linguistic elements, and in the emergence of a united India.

The celebration of Hindi Diwas is marked by awarding of prizes for excellence in various fields viz. implementation of Official Language Policy; Original Hindi Book-Writing on professional domain by the professionals concerned; Hindi book-writing on subjects of Science and Technology, including scientific and technological subjects of contemporary interest; the efficient functioning of Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLICs); and contents and presentation of in-house journals in Hindi.

President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil felicitated the national-level award-winners on this occasion.

Chairman and Managing Director of Canara Bank S Raman received "Indira Gandhi Rajbhasa Shield" from the President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil for the best implementation of official language at a grand function held at Vigyan Bhavan.

Hindi Diwas is celebrated with full enthusiasm on Sept 14 every year by all Circles/ Branches of Canara Bank.

This year Canara Bank circle celebrated Hindi Diwas with full fervour on September 15. V K Shukla, General Manager, Delhi Circle, presided over the function.

The staff members participated in the "Hindi Diwas Samaroh 2011" with full zeal and enthusiasm and presented a colourful cultural programme.

On this occasion, famous Hindi poet Mahendra Ajnabi was the chief guest. He brought cheers to the audience with his humorous poems.

September month is being celebrated as "Hindi Mah" every year. Delhi circle of Canara Bank too organised various competitions in Hindi in which a good number of staff members participated.

General Manager V K Shukla presented awards to the winners of the competitions and the Best Branches, Sections and staff members who did excellent work in the implementation of Hindi.