2nd official language status for Santhali sought

Bhubaneswar: The demand for second launguage status for Santhali has gained momentum with city-based Saarawna Trust, a tribal outfit, urging Odisha government to take up the matter on an urgent basis.

On the occasion of the Santhali Bhasa Diwas, a delegation of the outfit along with a few representatives of tribal community met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

The delegation also demanded establishment of a Santhali Academy in the state, installation of statues of Sunaram Soren and Guru Gomkey in Bhubaneswar and introduction of Santhali language in the course curriculum of North Odisha University.

Briefing mediapersons, Trust member Hemanta Kumar Soren said, “On the occasion of the Santhali Bhasa Diwas today, we submitted a memorandum to the CM demanding second official language status for Santhali. We also have demanded installation of a statue of Guru Gomkey here.”