Rajbhasha Kirti Award to Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances [Current Affairs]

On 14th September 2024, during Hindi Diwas Celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, the Secretary of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Mr. V. Srinivas, was awarded the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar by the Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah.

This award recognized DARPG’s exemplary performance in promoting the use of Hindi as the Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2023-24. DARPG’s commitment to implementing the Official Language Policy is reflected in its various initiatives, including monitoring language compliance and increasing Hindi usage across its sections and offices.

Official Language Implementation Measures

The department formed a Hindi Advisory Committee and an Official Language Implementation Committee to monitor the use of Hindi, with quarterly meetings to review progress. Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) and annual evaluation reports on Hindi usage are regularly submitted to the Department of Official Language.

Hindi Promotions & Initiatives

The department celebrated Hindi Fortnight from 14th to 28th September 2023, with 88 personnel participating in five competitions. Four workshops were held to encourage Hindi usage, and 62 out of 66 officers demonstrated Hindi proficiency. Additionally, individual orders were issued to employees to perform all their work in Hindi, with incentive schemes for original work done in Hindi.

Publications & Documentation

All documents under Section 3(3) of the Official Languages Act, 1963, are issued bilingually. E-office communications, reports, and other materials like the achievement booklet (2014–2023), National e-Service Delivery Assessment, and CPGRAMS reports are released in Hindi.

Other Efforts to Promote Hindi

To foster a Hindi-friendly environment, plaques were installed in offices, and daily translations of English words into Hindi are displayed. The department’s communication on platforms like Twitter/Facebook is also bilingual, and calls to 20 lakh citizens regarding public grievances are made in Hindi.

Significant Events

International Women’s Day was celebrated on 8th March 2024. Additionally, the department’s work includes integrating the e-office with Kanthasth software and producing short films in Hindi on best practices. Through these efforts, DARPG is fully adhering to the Official Language Policy.