The Utkal Sammilani celebrated the Shastriya Odia Bhasha Divas here on Sunday.
Former Speaker of State Assembly Sarat Kumar Kar and Bhasa Parthisthan’s former director Dr Harihar Kanungo graced as guests.
The Sammilani’s Mancheswar branch president Dillip Dashsharma said after Odia language got classical status in 2015, the Central Government had promised to provide grant of Rs 100 crore at first and subsequently Rs 5 crore every year for the development of the language but has not paid a single pie yet.
Among others, sammilani secretary Govind Chandra Subudhi, VP Sital Chandra Mohanty, joint secretaries Ashok Kumar Paltasingh and Bibhuti Swain were present.