In a huge relief for the culture researchers, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has decided not to close its Regional Office in Bhubaneswar.
ICCR president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has made this clear in a letter to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“The review of all ICCR centres was done. However, let me make it very clear that ICCR has not taken any decision to close down its office at Bhubaneswar.
All the regional offices of ICCR are functioning as per the annual plan,” Sahasrabuddhe wrote to Pradhan on Saturday.
Earlier, the decision to close the office in Bhubaneswar and shift the office to Kolkata had triggered sharp reactions among culture researchers and ICCR employees in the city.
Following protest by the culture researchers and ICCR Regional Office employees, Union Minister Pradhan had written a letter to Sahasrabuddhe urging him to reconsider the decision to close the ICCR office in Bhubaneswar.
The ICCR started its functioning in Odisha since 2009 and is promoting culture of Odisha and foreign student activities in a huge way.
Pradhan had requested the ICCR to look into the matter and take steps to restore the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.
Notably, the ICCR office in Odisha was first set up in Ravenshaw University.
later, it was shifted to Palaspalli in Bhubaneswar in 2015.