In a bid to protect and promote the Odia language, the Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani has decided to observe the Utkal Divas on April 1 as Bhasa Suraksha Divas in the entire State.
In a Press statement, Sammilani president MP Baishnab Parida said Odisha as separate State was formed on basis of Odia language in April, 1936 and many sons of the soil had to fight for this. However, though the mother tongue has been given Classical language status by the Centre, it is being neglected in its own land, lamented Parida.
“Use of Odia has been declining by the day under the influence of English and Hindi languages. The language would not have seen such a dwindling situation had the Orissa Official language Act-1954 been implemented,” Parida lamented.
The MP urged all district and block committees of the body and other literary and cultural organisations to observe April 1 as Bhasa Suraksha Divas at their levels and to demand before the State Government for implementation of the language Act.