Odia Language Row: Edu Minister Samir Das Vows To Take Up Issue with Jharkhand

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of widespread protests over Jharkhand government’s decision to withdraw second language status to Odia from school curriculum, Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Sameer Ranjan Das indicated on Wednesday that he would interact with his counterpart in Jharkhand to safeguard the interests of Odia people there.

Reacting to media reports on the issue of withdrawal of second language status to Odia in Jharkhand schools, Das said there are over 150 Odia schools in the neighbouring state where students are taught in regional languages including Bengali, Santhali and Odia.

“We have coordial relationship with the government in that state and we will discuss and ensure that Odia students are taught in our mother tongue in Jharkhand. If need be, we will request our Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Chief Minister of Jharkhand,” Das said.

There are at least 10 districts in Jharkhand such as Midnapur, Simdega, East and West Singhbhum, Sareikala and Kharsuan where Odia speaking people reside. Odia as a second language existed in the school curriculum since 2011 and the decision to withdraw the language would impact several Odias residing in the neighbouring state.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Pradipta Kumar Nayak said in a tweet that it is the design of Jharkhand government to separate Odias from their roots and the move to withdraw second language status to Odia ten years after its implementastion is “unconstitutional and undemocratic”.

There are reports of Odia people demonstrating in front of Shadeikala District Collector’s office on Tuesday.