Bhubaneswar:A one-day state-level discussion was organised today at the Godavari Sahitya Sansad Bhawan in Bhubaneswar by the Santali Language and Education Coordination Committee, Bhubaneswar, with the objective of promoting and strengthening Santali language, literature and education across Odisha.
Santali linguists, researchers, educationists, intellectuals and community representatives from different parts of the state participated in the discussion and shared their views on various issues concerning the development of Santali language and education.
Participants expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in taking action on the report submitted by the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Odisha in 2023. Although the committee had submitted its recommendations to the State Government, concrete follow-up action is yet to be taken, the speakers observed.
The meeting also discussed the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Odisha. It was pointed out that while textbooks in Odia have been prepared and printed in accordance with the new education policy, no adequate steps have yet been taken to prepare Santali-language textbooks in line with NEP 2020. Participants further observed that even the existing Santali textbooks are not being distributed regularly to the schools concerned.
The speakers emphasised that although Santali is an indigenous language, it is also a constitutionally recognised language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. It was further highlighted that Santali is the mother tongue of the Hon’ble President of India as well as the Chief Minister of Odisha. Considering its constitutional status and the provisions of existing government policies, the participants stressed that Santali deserves appropriate institutional support for its development and use in education. Serious concern was expressed over what participants described as the delay in introducing Santali effectively in the education system.
Detailed discussions were held on several demands, including the wider promotion of the Santali language and Ol Chiki script, publication and regular distribution of textbooks, and greater institutional support for Santali at the government level.
To pursue these demands in a coordinated manner, state-level and district-level committees were constituted during the discussion . It was also decided that committees would subsequently be formed at the block level to strengthen the movement at the grassroots.
The discussion was conducted in three sessions. Among those who delivered valuable speeches were senior adviser Udayanath Majhi; Sahitya Akademi Convener Chaitanya Prasad Majhi; retired IAS officer Dhananjay Hembram; former Sahitya Akademi Convener Madan Mohan Soren; Adim Awar Jarpa President Karu Murmu; Santali Engineers’ Welfare Association adviser Sudarshan Hembram and President Somnath Hansda; ASECA Bhubaneswar Branch President Dashmat Murmu and Secretary Rupendra Nath Murmu; Santali lecturer Dr Sunaram Soren; Bharat Jakat Majhi Mahal, Odisha Pargana Balkaram Baskey; Mission Ol Chiki adviser Mangat Murmu; Santal Maha Seneled General Secretary Tusildar Hansda; Santali PG Students’ Association President Bikram Beshra and Secretary Seral Murmu; and Dukhu Marndi
Salge Kisku, Surukuni Murmu, Minati Marndi, Sunia Marndi, Dubraj Hembram and Kariyalal Baskey, among others, extended their cooperation in organising and conducting the programme successfully.