Inclusion of Bengali language in primary education demanded

The Nikhil Bharat Bangali Samannay Samiti (All India Bengali Coordination Committee) has demanded inclusion of Bengali language in primary education in Odisha and warned of massive protest if the demand is not fulfilled at the earliest.

The demand was mooted during the district-level meeting of the committee held at Dumurimunda DNK village under Raighar block of Nabarangpur district on November 13.

National president of the outfit, Dr Subodh Kumar Biswas, alleged that though Bengali speaking people have been rehabilitated in 18 states across the country, they are deprived of their constitutional rights like education in mother tongue and permanent citizenship. Besides, many Bengali settlements have not been recognised as revenue villages yet while landless people have not been given land.

While several issues concerning the Bengali-speaking people were discussed during the meeting, former MLA of Malkangiri, Nimai Sarkar said he would draw the attention of the Centre and the State government in this regard.

Sarkar said that it is very unfortunate that the Bengali language is not being taught till the primary level in schools despite the fact that the Bengali-speaking people are living in the region for a long time.

The national president of the outfit threatened to launch an agitation if the State government does not take immediate steps in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Nabarangpur district committee of the outfit has been reconstituted and lawyer Tapan Debnath elected as the president.

Reported by Kartik Mallick, OTV