By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 21, 2016 : Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said his government will implement the Odisha Official Languages Act, 1954, by August 15 next. 

“The Odisha Official Languages Rules are in an advanced stage of formulation for better adoption of the Odia language in transaction of official business in the state. The Act of 1954 is being suitably amended for the purpose. I am hopeful that by August 15, it will be implemented,” the chief minister said.

He was addressing his council of ministers on the second anniversary of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to promote Odia language and the rich cultural heritage of Odisha, Patnaik announced setting up of a university to promote Odia language and literature for teaching and research at the postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels.

The CM further declared that the ‘Odia Virtual Academy’ announced in the state budget this year will be a reality soon. The rich literary corpus of Odia language will be digitised and made available on the Internet through this Academy.

“The process of identifying Odia books for digitisation is already on. The priceless masterpieces of Odia literature will be preserved for times immemorial,” he added.

Maintaining that the faculty for Odia language in universities and colleges in the state will be filled up on priority, Patnaik said schools of languages will be set up in North Odisha University and Fakir Mohan University.