OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 6:
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Union Culture ministry to expedite the formalities with regard to according classical status to Odia language.
In a letter to Union Culture minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch, he said the state government had requested her ministry in September last year to place the recommendations of the committee of linguistic experts, who had favoured classical status to Odia language, before the Union Cabinet for its approval.
“However, the ministry is yet to place the proposal to the Union Cabinet”, he rued.
“Since more than 40 million Odias are eagerly looking forward to the approval of the proposal, I request you to expedite the process”, Patnaik said in the letter.