Odia Asmita in tatters as language, literature edu struggle to breathe

AMIDST diminishing use of Odia, particularly among youths, teaching and research in the language has taken a hit.

- DIANA SAHU @ BHUBANESWAR

Neither does the state have enough teachers for the subject at college and university levels nor is it producing quality research work in Odia language and literature.

While there are almost 1,000 posts of Odia lecturers vacant in government degree colleges, all the public universities are running their Odia departments with one to three faculty members. The only exception is Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.

Fourteen public universities have Odia departments where the sanctioned Odia faculty positions is either seven or eight as per University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.