Socio-cultural organisation Ekkakee, which aims to sensitise people to protect Odia language and culture, held a seminar entitled, ‘Save Odia to keep Odia culture and community alive’ at lanjipalli Girls’ High School on Saturday. Founding president of the school Jagannath presided over the meeting, while the headmistress Puspalata Das coordinated. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Bhaskar Padhi expressed his concern over the lack of interest among the Odia people to practice Odia as their mother tongue which is quite unfortunate. He urged the teachers to resort to correct pronunciation in Odia while teaching.
Social worker Ramesh Chandra Mohanty, who graced the event as chief guest, said both the people of Odisha and the State Government are non-chalant about Odia language and culture. He said that the younger generation must know and love Odia and Odisha culture. Ekkakee secretary Trinath Maharana weighed in on sensitization programme across the State. Among others, J Pattnaik, Pankaj Kumari Devi, Reena Padhi, Rashmiprabha Mohapatra besides several teachers, students, social workers, and language-lovers attended the seminar.