Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is planning to impart education in Santhali language from primary school to university level.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said this while inaugurating the seventh annual conference of Odisha unit of All-India Santhali Writers’ Association in Keonjhar on Tuesday.
Stating that Ol-Chiki script of Santhali community was created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925, he said it would be fitting tribute to Pandit Murmu if the students in all classes can avail teaching in Santhali language. The government was contemplating in this line, he added.
“Due to the initiative of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Santhali language found a place in Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution. I am indebted to the contribution of Vajpayee,” he said.
The chief minister also called upon the Santhali writers to make a dedicated and concerted effort to promote the language, tradition and culture of the community. They should try to translate the books and other literary creations in Santhali to other languages, he added.
He paid rich tributes to the founder of the association, late Kandra Murmu and former president late Rupchand Hansda and released a literary magazine of the association on the occasion.
Saroj Kumar Soren presided the function which was attended by several MLAs and eminent personalities of the community.
