Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a new web portal
of ‘Odia Virtual Academy’ (
www.ova.gov.in) to promote the Odia
language and literature at the state secretariat here on Friday.
Launching the new web portal, Naveen said, “It is a matter of pleasure
that the new web portal of ‘Odia Virtual Academy’ is being dedicated
today. Odia language has received the classical status. A lot of
literature has also been created in Odia language. The Odia Virtual
Academy has taken the responsibility for the promotion, preservation
and digitisation of the Odia language and literature.”
He said this website will be helpful for the promotion of Odia
language at the international level, especially for the NROs. This
Academy will also be helpful for the youth, he added.
He also said, “I am glad that three MoUs have been signed with the
University of Chicago Library, C-DAC and Centre for Internet and
Society, Bengaluru to expedite digitisation of Odia literature and
development of Odia software. This will certainly go a long way in
enhancing the visibility of Odia language and literature in the
digital space.”
Notably, as many as 170 books of Odia literature have been placed on
the academy website.
To check the pollution of water bodies and drainage problems in the
state, the Chief Minister inaugurated six Septage Treatment Plants
(STPs) on the same day.
At a National Workshop on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management, he
inaugurated the facilities in six cities, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur,
Rourkela, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal and Puri through a video conference.
He said, “This is a significant step towards the goal of “Swachha
Odisha, Sustha Odisha”. We have successfully demonstrated
innovative sanitation solutions and implementation models in large
towns and now we shall be scaling up to cover the entire state.”
“In our endeavour to meet the Sustainable Development Goal for
universal access to safe and sustainable sanitation, I am happy to
convey that the faecal sludge management services will be
extended to all 114 municipal areas in the state along with modern
faecal sludge and septage management treatment facilities,” said
the CM.