DMK Member of parliament Kanimozhi has strongly criticised the Union government over the naming of the new bill related to the 100-Day Employment Guarantee Scheme, stating that the proposed name is “irritating” and reflects a disregard for regional languages, especially Tamil.

Speaking during a parliamentary session, kanimozhi questioned the Centre’s decision to rename or introduce the new bill without giving it a tamil name, despite tamil being one of India’s oldest classical languages and spoken by millions. Her remarks sparked attention both inside and outside Parliament.

Language and Cultural Identity

Kanimozhi emphadata-sized that language is not merely a medium of communication but a core part of cultural identity and dignity. She argued that repeatedly ignoring regional languages while naming national schemes sends a message that those languages are secondary or unimportant.

Referring to the 100-day employment guarantee programme—which directly benefits rural and marginalized communities—she asked why a scheme that affects people across diverse linguistic regions could not reflect India’s multilingual character.

Questioning the Centre’s Approach

The mp alleged that the Union Government’s approach appears to promote one-language dominance, sidelining classical and regional languages like Tamil. She questioned whether the refusal to use tamil names was intentional and demanded clarity from the Centre.

Kanimozhi pointed out that tamil has a rich administrative and literary history, and there is no shortage of meaningful tamil terminology suitable for public welfare schemes. “When schemes are meant for the people, why deny them a name in their own language?” she asked.

Impact on the People

She further noted that many beneficiaries of the 100-day employment guarantee scheme come from rural backgrounds, where local languages play a vital role in awareness and accessibility. Using regional languages, she argued, would improve understanding, participation, and ownership of welfare programmes.

According to kanimozhi, imposing unfamiliar or non-regional names creates distance between the scheme and the people it is intended to serve.

Demand for Respect and Inclusivity

Kanimozhi urged the Union government to adopt a more inclusive and respectful approach by recognising all indian languages equally. She called for naming welfare schemes in multiple languages or at least allowing states to officially use names in their own languages.

Her sharp questioning was seen as part of a broader demand for linguistic federalism, cultural respect, and cooperative governance.

Conclusion

By questioning why the new bill linked to the 100-day employment guarantee scheme was not given a tamil name, kanimozhi highlighted a deeper concern about language, identity, and inclusiveness in national policymaking. Her remarks reinforced the DMK’s long-standing stance that respect for linguistic diversity is essential to India’s unity and democratic values.

 

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