A delegation of the Utkal Sammilani has demanded 200 marks in Odia subject in all the English medium schools for the protection and propagation of the language in the State.
Briefing media persons here, a delegation of the Sammilani also raised concern over the increasing demand of English language and the security of Odia language. It also demanded making Odia compulsory with 22 marks in all English medium schools in the State.
Further, the delegation lamented that Odia is ignored and English is given more importance in all public and private sectors. Citing the condition of Odia language as a matter of grave concern, the delegation stressed the need of giving importance to both Odia and Telugu language in the outlying and border areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Even if the Odisha Government is providing all facilities to the Telugu speaking students, the Odia speaking students are not provided with books in Odia language.
Andhra is not giving any appointment to Odia teachers and the Telugu speaking teachers assigned with the job of teaching Odia are unable to read or write the language. In such a scenario, they wanted to know what will be the future of the Odia speaking students.
Sammilani vice president Binod Mohapatra, General Secretary Adatya Prasad Patra, organising committee member Sangram Akuli Sethy along with noted social workers of Gajapati district Purna Chandra Mohapatra, Goura Chandra Panda, Bata Krushna Patra, Bharat Bhusan Mohanty, Sidheswar Mishra, Binod Jena, Bharat Barik, Anadi Panigrahi and Gopal Satapathy were present.
Besides, another delegation of the Sammilani visited the project construction area of the disputed Mahendra Tanaya river. Due to the apathy of the State Government, the Andhra Pradesh Government is looting the water of the State, the members alleged.
Though the State Government had stated the construction of the project work at the upper part of the river five years ago, even half of the work has not been finished yet. Whereas the project work of Andhra Pradesh at the lower part of Mahendra Tanaya is at the last stage. The State Government must finish the work soon, they demanded.