Union Minister Asks Jharkhand & Andhra CMs To Promote Odia Language, Resolve Disputes

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written to the Chief Ministers of Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh seeking their personal intervention to promote Odia language among Odia speaking people in the two neighbouring states of Odisha.

In a letter to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Pradhan urged him to implement the values enshrined in the New Education Policy 2020 and preserving the best interests of Odia-speaking school children in Jharkhand.

“I seek your personal intervention in supporting and securing Odia language education in Jharkhand State for its Odia speaking population,” he wrote.

The Union Minister further said after the initial retirement of teachers posted in Odia Medium Schools, the State Education Department seems to be gradually giving up this practice and is now appointing Hindi speaking teachers in Odia Medium Schools.

Citing the past relations between the two states, Pradhan called upon him to work in the interest of Odia speaking people in Jharkhand.

In his letter to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Union Minister asked him to personally intervene and resolve issues pertaining to Odia language-based education in border villages of the two states.

Following demarcation of border between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, some of the schools in the border areas of Odisha as well as Andhra Pradesh have merged with the school systems in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, respectively. As a result, many Odia and Telugu speaking children in schools in the two states have become minority groups whose native languages need to be supported,” the Minister said in the letter.

To resolve this situation, both the state governments had entered into an agreement to cater to the needs of the students who wish to learn their respective languages (Telugu in Odisha and Odia in Andhra Pradesh) in schools.

“However, it is noted that requisite support is not being extended to the students of Vishakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts who wish to learn Odia. In Odisha, support is extended to the students in opting to learn Telugu as a language subject in schools including recruiting teachers for the same. A similar support to Odia minority students in Andhra Pradesh is the need of the hour,” he added.

“Therefore, keeping in mind the welfare of the minority students of Odisha Andhra Borders villages, I seek your personal intervention for expeditious and proactive measures for a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution of the issues between the two States in the spirit of cooperative federalism,” said Pradhan.