Public sector undertaking under the control of the DAFW

## Report on Notification Regarding Use of Official Language by the National Horticulture Board **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification (S.O. 4255E) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on August 18, 2022, concerning the use of the official language (Hindi) within the National Horticulture Board (NHB). This notification is issued in pursuance of Sub-Rule 4 of Rule 10 of the Official Language Use for Official Purposes of the Union Rule, 1976. The key finding is that the government is formally recognizing that a specific NHB office has met the requirement of having a sufficient number of staff with working knowledge of Hindi, thus fulfilling obligations under the Official Languages Act. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview of the notification S.O. 4255E issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, as published in the Gazette of India on September 12, 2022. The report aims to inform stakeholders about the implications of this notification regarding the use of the official language within a specific branch of the National Horticulture Board. **3. Policy Overview:** * This is *not* a new overarching policy. It's a notification pertaining to compliance with existing Official Language Rules. * **Core Objective (Inferred):** To ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act and Rules by recognizing and formally notifying that the National Horticulture Board, specifically the Operation Center in Vijayawada, has met the requirement of having the required number of staff with a working knowledge of Hindi. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **Rationale (Inferred):** The Official Languages Act mandates that government offices and public sector undertakings reach a certain threshold of staff proficiency in Hindi. This notification suggests the Operation Center, Indira Gandhi Nagar Stadium Parisar, First floor, Gate no.3 Labpet Bandar Road, Vijaywada520010 Andhra Pardash of the NHB has now achieved this level. The notification serves as a formal acknowledgement and public record of this compliance. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * This is *not* an amendment, but a formal notification. Therefore, the provisions outline what the notification *does*. * The notification formally acknowledges that the Operation Center, Indira Gandhi Nagar Stadium Parisar, First floor, Gate no.3 Labpet Bandar Road, Vijaywada520010 Andhra Pardash of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) has a staff of 80 with working knowledge of Hindi. This fulfills a requirement under Sub-Rule 4 of Rule 10 of the Official Language Use for Official Purposes of the Union Rule, 1976. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** * The primary target audience are the National Horticulture Board, specifically the staff and management of the Operation Center, Indira Gandhi Nagar Stadium Parisar, First floor, Gate no.3 Labpet Bandar Road, Vijaywada520010 Andhra Pardash. * Other stakeholders include the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Department of Official Language, and potentially other government agencies monitoring compliance with the Official Languages Act. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the responsible agency, as evidenced by the notification's origin. The National Horticulture Board is the entity being notified and is responsible for maintaining compliance. * **Timelines/Procedures:** No specific timelines or procedures are mentioned in this notification. The notification itself serves as the formal record of compliance as of the date of the notification (August 18, 2022). **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * The expected outcome is formal recognition of the Operation Center, Indira Gandhi Nagar Stadium Parisar, First floor, Gate no.3 Labpet Bandar Road, Vijaywada520010 Andhra Pardash of the NHB's compliance with the Official Languages Act. This may lead to increased use of Hindi in official communications and operations within that office, as per the Act's stipulations. **9. Conclusion:** The notification S.O. 4255E is a formal acknowledgement that the Operation Center, Indira Gandhi Nagar Stadium Parisar, First floor, Gate no.3 Labpet Bandar Road, Vijaywada520010 Andhra Pardash of the National Horticulture Board has met the required criteria for Hindi proficiency among its staff, ensuring compliance with the Official Languages Act. This notification is significant as it demonstrates the government's commitment to promoting the use of Hindi in government offices and public sector undertakings.

Key Entities Referenced