Cabinet Push For Odia Promotion

CM Naveen Patnaik chairing the cabinet meeting in Puri on Tuesday. Photograph: Odishabytes

Puri: The state cabinet meeting, held outside the state secretariat
in Bhubaneswar for the first time, here on Tuesday approved several important
proposals including formation of a heritage cabinet for development of
Odia language and literature.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave its nod for
waiving the tuition fees for students pursuing Odia at degree and post
graduation levels, besides clearing another proposal regarding
separation of tourism and culture departments.

The meeting also decided to make provision for providing incentive to
students pursuing Odia language at par with the University Grants
Commission (UGC) and give away prizes to those who have contributed to
research and designing of Odia web portals.

Apart from those, it was also decided to revive Bhagabat Tungis (place
for the recital of scriptures in villages) and organize ‘World Odia
Language Convention’ every five years for promotion of the language.

Moreover, the government has plans to bring amendment in Orissa Shops
& Commercial Establishment Act, 1956 to make it mandatory for the
business establishments to have Odia signage.