After a long wait, the State Government has taken a historical step for the Odia language. As the language got the Cabinet nod on Saturday to be used in transaction of official businesses, Odisha Bhasha Sangram Samiti hailed the decision.
The proposals of the Samiti were approved by the Council of Ministers, said Samiti convenor Shankarshan Parida in a statement here.
For the Government’s decision, the Samiti thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, law Minister Dr Arun Sahu, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das.
At the same time, the Samiti demanded a researched-based Odia University and promulgation of an Ordinance of the amended Odisha Official language Act 1954.
Besides, the Samiti also urged the Government to make Odia language compulsory in every Government and private school up to Class-X.
“We also demanded recruitment of Odia teachers in every school and to conduct all the competitive examinations in Odia. These demands were not included in the Cabinet agenda. We expect they would consider it at the next meeting,” said Parida.
Samiti joint convener Dr Subrat Kumar Prusty, Padmashri Debi Prasanna Pattnaik and Prof Natbar Satpathy also held this view.