RAJBIRAJ: The 15th International Maithili Conference has concluded issuing a 13-point the Rajbiraj Declaration, which includes making Maithili as the language of official use in Province 2.

The Declaration was launched at a press conference organised by the Conference Organising Mian Committee in Rajbiraj today.

“Maithili should be used as the language of official works in the new structure to be formed now as Maithili is the language spoken by a majority of the population in Province 2,” reads the Rajbiraj Declaration.

Likewise, the conference has suggested naming Province 2 as the Mithila Province. The Declaration also calls for declaring the region from Jhapa to Birgunj as the 'Mithila Tourism Zone' by preserving and promoting the places of cultural, archaeological and historical importance that lies in this region.

Likewise, the Declaration calls for tax exemption for the big and small screen films made in Maithili language, providing government subsidies for promoting the production of Maithili language movies and for strengthening the Maithili language media of mass communication.

The demand also calls for digital archiving of the Mithila folklore and developing the places of origin of Mithila legendary heroes as tourism sites from the government level. Among the demands contained in the Declaration are making Maithili a compulsory subject at the basic and higher education levels in Province 1 and Province 2 and the need for taking initiatives at the governmental level for the promotion and protection of the Maithili literature, culture and tradition.

Around 200 linguists and culture experts, litterateurs and researchers participated in the two-day conference. The 16th International Maithili Conference will be held in Janakpur of Dhanusha district.