Pune: The fifth biannual meeting of the Town Official Language Implementation Committee (NARAKAS SOC-2), Pune, was held on November 25, 2024, at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL).

The event was presided over by Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of CSIR-NCL and Chairman of NARAKAS (SOC-2), Pune.

The meeting saw participation from 12 central institutions and 60 central offices, with over 100 representatives attending.

Distinguished guests included Dr. Sushmita Bhattacharya, Deputy Director, Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs; Dr. Prashant Dhakephalkar, Director, Agharkar Research Institute; and K.S. Hosalikar, Head of Climate Research and Services Office, India Meteorological Department.

Dr. Swati Chaddha, Hindi Officer at CSIR-NCL and Secretary of NARAKAS (SOC-2), welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the committee.

Dr. Sushmita Bhattacharya presented a review of the biannual report and provided guidance on the effective use of the official language in institutional activities. She encouraged institutions to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the language.

Dr. Chaddha also presented proposals and updates on activities related to the committee’s objectives.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Lele highlighted the committee’s role in uniting institutions to promote the official language.

He urged members to strengthen their commitment to national development through the use of the official language. The event also included the release of a journal by the Zoological Survey of India.

K.S. Hosalikar shared details of the official language initiatives undertaken by his department and praised NARAKAS for its proactive efforts under CSIR-NCL. Dr. Dhakephalkar also presented an overview of language-related activities at the Agharkar Research Institute, commending CSIR-NCL for its leadership in the committee's work.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Kaushal Kumar, Administrative Officer at CSIR-NCL.