Regional office of ICCR to remain in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: In a huge relief for the culture researchers, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) decided not to close its regional office here in Bhubaneswar.

The ICCR president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe confirmed it in a letter to Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The ICCR has not taken any decision to close down its office at Bhubaneswar. All the regional offices of ICCR are functioning as per the annual plan,” Sahasrabuddhe wrote to Pradhan on May 19.

Earlier, the decision to close the office in Bhubaneswar and relocate the office to Kolkata had triggered sharp reactions among culture researchers and ICCR employees in the city here.

Also Read: ICCR office to be closed in Odisha capital

Following protest by the culture researchers and ICCR regional office employees, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had written a letter to Sahasrabuddhe urging him to reconsider the decision to close the ICCR office in Bhubaneswar.

The ICCR started its functioning in Odisha since 2009 and is promoting culture of Odisha and foreign student activities in a huge way.

Pradhan had requested the ICCR to look into the matter and take steps to restore the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.

Notably, the ICCR office in Odisha was first set up in Ravenshaw University. Later, it was shifted to Palaspalli in Bhubaneswar in 2015.