Punjab govt struggles to translate central laws into Punjabi
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Patiala: The Punjab govt's prolonged struggle to translate key central laws into Punjabi has come under fresh scrutiny, with activists and rural workers voicing frustration over years of delay.
Despite repeated demands and official commitments, critical legislation such as the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) remain untranslated, creating barriers to legal clarity and access for Punjabi-speaking citizens.
The issue gained renewed attention after a group of rural labourers from Nabha encountered confusion over the interpretation of the English word "may" in the MGNREGA Act during a dispute with the local administration.
Their request for a Punjabi version of the Act was denied, prompting them to file a Right to Information (RTI) application. With no response, the matter is now scheduled for hearing before the Punjab State Information Commission on June 25.
This is not the first time the commission has intervened on such issues. Activist Vijay Walia, who was advocating for the Punjabi translation of the BOCW Act since 2022, revealed that multiple hearings were held over the years.
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"Every time, the govt claims the Act is being translated by the Language Department and universities, but nothing concrete has emerged," Walia said.
At one point, the language department even issued a written statement citing staff shortages as the reason for the delay. In 2023, the Estimates Committee of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha pressed for an expedited translation, prompting the labour department to seek assistance from Punjabi University.
However, the translation is yet to be completed. In a response submitted in March 2024, the BOCW Welfare Board — chaired by the chief minister — told the Commission that once the translation is ready, it will be reviewed by the Vidhan Sabha's Legal Cell and then presented to the Cabinet for approval before being officially notified in Punjabi.
Despite these assurances, there was no official notification to date.
Meanwhile, the Democratic MGNREGA Front has also entered the fray and is set to begin its own hearings on the lack of a Punjabi translation of the MGNREGA Act starting June. For many, this delay underscores a broader systemic neglect toward Punjabi as an administrative and legal language in Punjab itself. With legal interpretations hanging in the balance, stakeholders are now hoping that pressure from civil society and the Information Commission will push the govt toward swift action.
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