Hindi a binding force of India: President

President Pranab Mukherjee today described Hindi as the binding force of the country and advocated more steps for the growth of Hindi and other regional languages.
Addressing a function organised on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Mukherjee expressed the hope that the Rajbhasha Awards would provide the necessary encouragement to use Hindi to the maximum possible extent.
"Hindi, as a language of the common man is a binding force for the nation," he said, after presenting the Rajbhasha Awards to various Ministries, Departments, PSUs, nationalised banks etc. For outstanding achievements in the use of Hindi.
The President said Hindi has a special contribution to make in helping the advantage of government schemes to reach to the common man.

"We should encourage the growth of Hindi and local languages. Books on technical subjects should be available in Hindi and other Indian languages," he said.
Mukherjee said joint efforts should be made to encourage the use of Hindi and other Indian languages on the Internet also.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said the government was committed for the expansion of Hindi across India.
Singh said efforts are being made for regular use of Hindi in all official works and correspondence and hoped that the Rajbhasha Awards would encourage everyone to work for the growth of Hindi.