Ranchi, Feb. 13: Tribal intellectuals expressed their desire to promote tribal languages to carve out an identity for the state after it was revealed that there was no allocation for tribal languages in the 2005-06 budget.

?We will do our best to get a budget allocation for the development of tribal languages this year,? said Bishop Nirmal Minz to 20 tribal intellectuals at a meet called by Adivasi Sahitya Manch.

Father Minz, ex-principal of Gossner College and president of the manch, reminded intellectuals that the chief motive of the formation of Jharkhand was to carve a different identity for the state.

Manch member Prabhakar Tirkey said: ?In 1953, the government of Bihar and officials from education department were given instructions to start teaching primary school students the four tribal languages ? Kurukh, Mundari, Ho and Santhali ? in tribal areas. But this was not implemented?.

?After the creation of the new state, the government directed the education department to teach students five tribal languages ? Kurukh, Mundari, Ho, Santhali and Kharia. Instructions were also given to the students of primary schools. But no such classes were held?.

It was later found that the books were written on the recommendation of the government and the materials distributed in the tribal regions, but there were no teachers present to teach.

Narayan Bhagat, secretary of the Manch blamed the government for the poor status of tribal languages.

?The state government has behaved in a step-motherly fashion towards tribal languages,? he stated, pointing out that the state government has already given Urdu and Bengali official language status.

According to Vimal Hembhrom, a veterinary doctor present in the meeting: ?It will not suffice to just attend meetings and make plans. We should include tribal people from all spheres ? from education to politics to business. That is the effective way to make way for budgetary allocations as well as for the upliftment of tribal languages?.