On Utkal Divas, Odisha Children Advocate Quality Education For All

Bhubaneswar: As the state celebrates Utkal Divas on Thursday, Odisha Bytes spoke to school children about their feelings on this auspicious day and what they want for further development of the state.

Here’s what they said:

Manisha Bahalia, Class IX, Govt Girls’ High School, Unit-IX, Bhubaneswar

For the development of Odisha and Odia language, every school and college should make Odia a compulsory subject. Our flora and fauna also needs to be nurtured.

If we can make good strides in every sector, we won’t have to depend on other states on sectors like hospitals and technology.

Last but not the least, unemployment should be eradicated.

Our people should not be lazy. They should come forward and take part in the process of development, along with the state.

Adya Utkalika Das, Standard VIII, Loyola School, Bhubaneswar

It hurts me a lot when I see children begging or working on roadsides. I see these scenes on way to school, and get disturbed. If every child doesn’t get basic facilities of studying or living a healthy life, all-round development won’t be possible.

Along Odia language and literature, we should focus on this aspect.

Literate people can do a lot more for the development of Odisha.

Preeti Mishra, Class IX, Govt Girls’ High School, Unit-IX, Bhubaneswar

We should follow what freedom fighters like Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das and other social reformers of Odisha taught us. If we follow their philosophy, we can definitely help develop our state.

Though we live in a world dominated by science and technology, we should know about the rich history, culture and heritage of our state.

We should always remember those people who made great contribution for the growth of Odisha.

We must know about our state in detail before getting knowledge of other states and countries.

Ruturaj Tripathy, Class IX, St Xavier’s School, Cuttack

I want every student in government and private schools of Odisha to get the same facilities like good classrooms, infrastructure, sanitation, quality of education, etc.

Many of my friends don’t get facilities that I and others are lucky to have. There is a lot of differentiation, which should not exist.

Bismita Swain, Class IX, Government Girls’ High School, Unit-IX, Bhubaneswar

I feel proud to be an Odia. It’s for freedom fighters like Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, that we have a separate province.

We should follow the philosophy of freedom fighters so that we can be good citizens. If are good human beings, we will think about the betterment of the state.

The government should take steps for the development of students. We should have historical and cultural knowledge of our state.