In a unique effort to promote the Odia language and script, the Utkal Sammilani on Monday launched ‘Dhanyabad Yojana’ on the eve of the Odia New Year here. At a Press meet, Sammilani Mancheswar branch head Dillip Dashsharma said the initiative aims at discouraging usage of English in invitation letters of Odias for various occasions. Though Odia has been accorded the Classical language status yet many Odias do not use their mother tongue in invitation letters and in nameplates in front of their houses, rued Dashsharma.
“Under this Yojana, if anyone gives an invitation letter using English language, we will not join the programme; rather we will send them a ‘Thank You’ letter showing a clear reason for not attending the event,” he said, adding that the letter would have a message that “Being a complete Odia person, you invited another Odia like me using English, for which we will not join your programme”. He said that though it is a small initiative, in the long run, if executed properly, it would go a long way in promoting Odia language. He urged all Odias to follow suit.