Scheduled to commence on February 3 in Bhubaneswar, the inaugural edition of a three-day-long World Odia Language Conference is poised for a grand opening.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has instructed all concerned departments to collaborate closely with the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department in this regard.
The decision to organise the conference was taken during a Heritage Cabinet meeting convened on December 19 with an aim of popularisingOdia language across the world and preserving it.
The Odia language conference will subsequently be held at the State, national and international levels. Several eminent linguists and language experts of national and international repute will be invited to the theme-based conference. They would give presentations on their dissertations, an official said.
Students from across Odisha will be involved in the conference and a special emphasis will be given to populariseOdia language amongst youngsters for effective preservation of the mother tongue.
Different universities and educational institutions in Odisha will hold their respective programmes. The conference will help promote Odia language in the State and outside.
