Bhubaneswar: Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash today urged his counterpart in Jharkhand to include Odia language in the curriculum of the Primary Teachers training course.
In a letter to Jharkhand School Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto Dash said in the advertisement published by the Jharkhand Academic Council on September 20 last for the Primary Teachers’ Training, Odia language has been excluded from the 7th paper whereas languages like Sanskrit, Bengali, Urdu, Ho, Mundari, Santhali and Kudmali have been included.
Dash said it has created doubts and an atmosphere of dissent, distrust and discomfort in the minds of Odia Speaking people in Jharkhand and fanning controversies.
He said, ‘’ The people of Jharkhand and Odisha have a longstanding homogenous cultural identity and heritage. The government of Jharkhand has rightly recognised the importance of this historical bond and accepted Odia as the second language of the State.”
The Odisha government is also funding nearly 160 teachers through Utkal Samilani to impart education in Odia in the Odia speaking tracts like Sadheikala, Kharasuan and Singh Bhoom. Apart from this, around 35 Odia schools are running in Jharkhand.
Dash requested Mr Mahato to take appropriate action to restore and regain the trust and faith of Odia speaking people..
