ABSTRACT
Language is an important site of exclusion. This is particularly evident when the teachers' or official state language is different from the mother tongue of the children. In Orissa, teachers from coastal districts do not know either the language spoken in the districts in the western part of the state or the tribal languages, and are therefore unable to communicate with the children in these areas. The issue of language as a site of exclusion has been highlighted in India for over 60 years. The ability of children to access a school, participate in school activities, learn, grow, and – most importantly – develop a sense of self-worth, is influenced by a wide range of issues related to the school, family, and society. Taking the Constitution of India as a guiding spirit, teachers, administrators, and community leaders need to be told that any violation of the right to equality and the constitutional right to freedom from discrimination will invite strict penal.
