Himachal Pradesh Assembly passes Bill to make Sanskrit second official language

Himachal Pradesh Assembly (Photo: Facebook)


Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Saturday passed Official Language (Amendment) Bill 2019 to make Sanskrit as the second official language of the state. The first official language of Himachal is Hindi.

The Assembly also passed the Himachal Pradesh University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to rename the varsity after the name of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee as ‘Atal Medical and Research University, Himachal Pradesh’ and enhance the retirement age of Vice-Chancellor of the University to 70 years.

The University is being set up in Ner Chowk in Mandi.

The HP Bovine Breeding Bill, 2019 was also passed by the Assembly to promote indigenous species of cows in the state by setting up sperm stations and using frozen semen in artificial insemination.

The HP government proposes to use artificial insemination with frozen semen which has been recognised worldwide as the best tool for genetic improvement through the dissemination of superior germplasm.

The government aims to set up sperm stations for better production and distribution of quality semen. These stations would be used for processing, sale and storage of quality sperm produced within or outside the state and their regulation.

The bulls of high genetic merit would be used for used for quality semen production as per minimum standard protocol.

The government also aims to engage the best artificial insemination worker for bovine breeding and bring in policy and implement it across the state.