In a major step towards use of Odia as the official language of the State, the Odisha Government on Saturday launched its official website in Odia language — www.odia.odisha.gov.in and decided to introduce Odia as a compulsory subject from Class 1 to X in both Government and private schools.
The website was launched during the third Ministerial-level meeting held at the State Secretariat chaired by School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, said a release of the Odia Bhasa Sangram Samiti (OBSS).
The meeting decided to start giving training to teachers till Class V on promotion of quality fundamental education environment in December. This apart, the meeting too decided to appoint Odia teachers from Class VI to X.
The Secretaries of all Departments would prepare modalities within two weeks and the same would be sent to the Chief Minister for approval in December second week.
Ministers Arun Sahoo, Bikram Kesari Arukh, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Pranab Prakash Das, linguist Debi Prasanna Pattanaik, Sankarsan Parida and Subrat Prusty attended the meeting as members.
The decision to launch the website was the outcome of the agreement reached between the Government and the Odia Bhasa Sangram Samiti headed by Sankarsan Parida.
Notably, on July 8 this year, the CM had directed formation of the five-member Ministerial-level committee for implementation of the Orissa Official language Act, 1954 after eight days of a fast-unto-death launched by OBSS members.