MP Baishnab Parida demanded promotion and protection of the Odia language in other States like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Participating in the Question Hour, Parida complained that the Governments of those States are not taking care of the language. For this reason, the Odia culture and language are dying in other States where there is a considerable presence of Odia population.
He said lakhs of Odia people are living in other States. Their children are not getting Odia knowledge from the schools.
The Odia language and culture is vanishing in those States, he added, urging the Central Government to intervene in the matter. Rajya Sabha members of all States supported the proposal of Parida.