Odia people living in Jharkhand staged a protest opposing the move to exclude Odia as a second language

Saraikela: 29/9/21:: Hundreds of Odia people living in Jharkhand today staged a protest before Saraikela district Collector’s office opposing the move to exclude Odia as a second language from the Jharkhand syllabus.

The protestors under the banner of Kolhan Odia Samaj alleged that for years, Odia language has been neglected in Sareikela, which was once part of Odisha.

The protest gained momentum after the Jharkhand School and Mass Education Department decided to withdraw recognition of Odia language as the second official language of the state, about 10 years after according the status.

Meanwhile, political leaders across the party line have opposed the neighboring state’s decision.

“The Jharkhand government has now decided to remove the Odia language from schools and colleges syllabus.  In Jharkhand, millions of Odia people living in the Odia-speaking areas of Sadeikala, Kharsua, Singhbhumi, can no longer study Odia in schools and colleges,” said Pradipta Naik, the Leader of Opposition, Odisha Assembly.

“Jharkhand School and Mass Education Department’s decision to withdraw recognition of Odia language as the state’s second official language is not good for our shared Odia ‘Asmita’. Odisha govt must raise this issue with the Jharkhand govt,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik on Twitter.

Noteworthy, Odia-speaking people live in 10 districts–East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Sareikela-Kharasuan, Ranchi, Gumla, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Simdega, Lahardega, and Latehar.