The Utkal Sammilani observed Bruhattar Utkal Divas (Greater Utkal Day) at its office premises here on Sunday.
The meeting presided over by Sammilani’s senior member Dr Gopalkurshna Shrichandan discussed various issues on Odia learning and culture in Odisha and disconnected areas in neighbouring States.
Participating in the discussion, Sammilani’s Mancheswar Industrial Estate Branch president Dillip Dashsharma expressed concern that the area of Odisha is, instead of being broader, getting smaller by the day. “While some parts of Odisha is about to be merged with Andhra Pradesh for the Polavaram project, West Bengal continuing its ownership on bordering villages of Baleswar district and Chhattisgarh fighting with us for Mahanadi,” lamented Dashsharma.
Besides this, the Sammilani is imparting Odia teachings in disconnected areas by opening 600 script teaching centres across borders of four neighbouring States, he stated.
Sammilani central general secretary Adwaita Kumar Patra informed about various programmes being undertaken by the Samillani in disconnected areas. Among others, members like Kamalakant Kar, Debendra Das, Usha Mohanty and Srinivas Padhi spoke.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Nirakar Mahalik.