Union Education Minister Advocates for Odia Language Promotion in Gujarat
In a significant move to support linguistic diversity and cultural preservation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has formally requested Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take proactive measures to promote Odia language and education within the state. This initiative specifically targets the substantial Odia-speaking population residing in Gujarat, with a particular focus on the industrial hub of Surat.
Addressing Educational Needs of the Odia Diaspora
In his detailed letter, Minister Pradhan highlighted the pressing need to strengthen institutional frameworks for Odia language education. He pointed out that Gujarat currently has only a handful of Odia medium schools, which is insufficient to cater to the educational aspirations of migrant Odia families. The minister proposed a multi-pronged approach to address this gap.
The core recommendations include:
- Establishing more Odia medium schools across Gujarat to provide foundational education in the mother tongue.
- Introducing Odia as an optional subject in colleges and universities to ensure academic continuity for students pursuing higher studies.
- Setting up dedicated Odia language departments in higher education institutions to foster advanced learning and research.
Surat: A Key Focus Area
The city of Surat, home to an estimated 1.6 lakh Odia-speaking individuals, stands at the center of this appeal. While Surat currently has around 30 Odia medium schools—a mix of private and government institutions—the existing infrastructure is deemed inadequate. The letter from Minister Pradhan was prompted by a memorandum submitted by the 'Surat Odia Samaj', reflecting the community's longstanding concerns regarding the lack of proper educational facilities in their native language.
"Expanding educational institutes that impart education in Odia would be a welcome step, keeping in view the community's aspirations and cultural attachment to the language," Pradhan emphasized in his communication.
Alignment with National Education Policy 2020
Minister Pradhan strategically anchored his proposals within the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He underscored that the policy explicitly emphasizes education in the mother tongue at the foundational stage, the promotion of Indian languages, and the strengthening of multilingual education. "In this context, creating robust institutional frameworks for Odia language education in Gujarat is highly relevant," he stated.
Comprehensive Recommendations for Systemic Improvement
To ensure the sustainability and quality of Odia language education, the Union Minister put forth several additional suggestions:
- Curriculum Standardization: Adoption of NCERT-based curricula for Odia medium schools to improve academic quality and facilitate smoother transitions for students moving between Odisha and Gujarat.
- Teacher Development: Launching a specialized Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for the Odia language. This initiative aims to address the critical shortage of qualified Odia teachers in government schools, thereby enhancing the standard of instruction.
Recognizing Community Contributions
In his appeal, Dharmendra Pradhan also acknowledged the significant contributions made by Odia-speaking migrants to Gujarat's industrial and social sectors. He urged the state government to intervene for the holistic social and educational development of the Odia community, framing the issue as one of rightful access to cultural and educational resources for a productive demographic.
This correspondence marks a concerted effort at the union level to advocate for linguistic minorities in other states, promoting India's rich tapestry of languages within the federal structure. The response from the Gujarat government is now awaited, as stakeholders watch for potential policy shifts that could empower the Odia diaspora in Gujarat.
