The State Government has taken a historical step for the Odia language.
The language has got the Cabinet nod to be used in transaction of official businesses.
Use of Odia language at offices would be compulsory from August 15.
The Odia Bhasha Sangram Samiti spearheading a movement for use of the Odia language as the professional language hailed the move. The Samiti was demanding promulgation of an ordinance of the amended Odisha Official language Act 1954.
Besides, the Samiti also had urged the Government to make Odia language compulsory in every Government and private school up to Class-X. Odia should be a compulsory subject in all the schools and colleges, said Samiti convenor Shankarshan Parida at a Press meet here on Tuesday.
“We also demanded recruitment of Odia teachers in every school and to conduct all the competitive examinations in Odia,” said Parida.
Samiti members also demanded celebrating language week in the State. Padma Shri Dr Debi Prasanna Pattnaik, ONAS president Pro Jantrana Parikhit, Hemant Rath, Debaprasad Parija, Dr Debashish Mishra and Atis Mohanty were present, among others.