Bengaluru, July 20: The Tulu language script, designed by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy using historic documents, will soon be incorporated into the unicode character list, Kannada and Culture Minister Aravind Limbavali said on Tuesday.

"There were several discussions for about 10 years related to designing the Tulu script.

Tulu language and script experts undertook the final work with unanimity.

The script that they put forth was accepted by the Academy.

We have also now approved the addition of the script to the Unicode character list," Limbavali said.

Stating that the Karnataka government had asked the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, to review and approve the Tulu script, he said CIIL formed a committee of linguists who analysed the work and approved it.

The committee members also recommended addition of the script to the Unicode consortium.

The Kannada and Culture Department, therefore, has written to the Tulu Academy on this, he was quoted as saying in a statement by his office.

The Academy has also been told to address the other technical aspects for the script to be added to the list.

"Greater use of the Tulu script on digital platforms, in print media and in advertisements will do great justice to the experts' efforts.

The script is, after all, a symbol of the Tulu culture, whose kings ruled in Karnataka for nine centuries, Limbavali said.

The state government has been working consistently, as much for the welfare and growth of Tulu language and culture, as for other languages in the state, he added.

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Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.

The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.

The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.

Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.

The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.

"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.

To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.

"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.

The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.

The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.

It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.