Koraput: In unabated intrusive activities in fringe areas of Odisha, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has allegedly hatched another conspiracy to weaken Odia language in Kotia panchayat by aggressively promoting Telugu.
Sources said the Andhra Pradesh government is trying to promote its own language in Kotia to finish Odia in the area. A house was taken on rent at Fatusineri village of Kotia panchayat where a teacher has been appointed to teach children Telugu free of cost.
Though the Odisha government has opened its schools in the area, people and children are reportedly more inclined towards learning Telugu than Odia.
After YSR Congress came to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2019, a deliberate attempt was made to promote Telugu in disputed areas in Odisha. However, building infrastructure in these areas to promote Telugu was not an easy task.
Earlier, the AP government had run a school in a thatched house for some time at Fatusineri village and appointed a teacher too. Later, agents had been engaged to arrange children for the school.
However, the school was closed a few days ago after it got damaged due to hailstorm.
Thereafter, a senior official of Salur education circle talked to an agent identified as Suka Gemel and convinced him to rent a part of his house for the purpose. As many as 17 children of Fatusineri are learning Telugu there. It was learnt that Rs 10,000 is paid monthly as rent to Suka.
Sources said four students of Class-I, eight of Class-II, one of Class-III, and four of Class-IV are learning Telugu at the rented house. The AP government has also made provision of stipend for each student, apart from free text books, uniforms and mid-day meals.
The school has posters and banners containing logo of the AP government and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
When contacted, A Ganesh, a teacher appointed by the AP government at Fatusineri, said, “I have been instructed by our Collector to stay at the rented house to teach Telugu to children. We face no problem in taking house on rent to run the school. Guardians regularly bring their children to the school where 17 children are now taught Telugu.”
