Odisha to soon bring policy to impart medical, technical education in Odia

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken a host of decisions to promote and propagate Odia language.

The Chief Minister took the decisions on the basis of the resolutions passed at the maiden World Odia Language Conference in the capital city here recently, said Odia Language Literature and Culture Minister Aswini Kumar Patra in the Assembly today.

As per the decisions taken by the Chief Minister, the state government will constitute Rs 10-crore corpus fund to facilitate research on Odia language in national and international level. The programme will be implemented though the Odia University at Satyabadi.

An expert committee will be formed for standardization of Odia fonts used in computer keyboards. Besides, the state government will take immediate steps for recruitment of special Odia teachers in 1,500 high schools in the first phase. All high schools in the state will be included under the scheme in the second phase, said the Minister.

Moreover, the state government will provide an assistance of Rs 1 crore each to schools that have completed 100 years to promote education in Odia medium. The public universities, established before the independence, will get an assistance of Rs 2 crore each for the purpose, revealed the ministers.

“The state government will provide funds for translation of Odia books in other languages. Besides, a committee will be formed to prepare a comprehensive Odia dictionary for our students and readers,” he said.

The government has planned to introduce a policy framework for promoting technical as well as medical education in Odia language. Besides, the state government will provide assistance for publication of books in Odia, informed the Minister in the Assembly.

“In an effort to promote Odia language among the youngsters, the state government will felicitate at least 100 budding talents in Odia. The state government will institute Chief Minister’s Cup debate competition in Odia,” he said.

The state government will also take steps for setting up of public libraries to promote reading habits among Odia youths. Odia communities across the country and abroad can seek government assistance to set up libraries.

“Steps will be taken for setting up of Odia chairs at several universities in and outside India. The government has already initiated discussions in this regard with five universities in the first phase. The Odia University at Satyabadi will publish International Journal of Odia Studies once in a year,” said the Minister.

The Chief Minister has decided that the state government will develop the Odia Learning Management System (OLMS) for providing online education on Odia language to the kids of non-resident Odias, he added.

The government will take steps to develop the Orissan Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS) as a centre of excellence. The institute will get an assistance of Rs 2 crore annually for the purpose, said the Minister.