Bhubaneswar, Oct 6: The Odisha Urdu Academy established on February 7, 1987 for promoting Urdu language and literature in the state. But the academy has not given its awards to its writers from the past 11 years, promotion is far off. Thus, this academy is a clear picture of utmost neglect and been deprived of government patronage. It has also not formed a new general council which should be constituted after every nine months which is adversely affecting the functioning of the academy. The new five member executive body could only be formed after formation of the 48-member general council, which is empowered to take decisions on the academy’s activities including the academy awards.
Tourism and Culture minister, Ashok Panda said that the file which inculcates the formation of the council is pending with the chief minister’s office. The chairman of the minority cell of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Sk Abdul Bari said that it is time now that the CM took minorities’ issues and academy affairs seriously as development of minorities has taken a back seat during the rule of this government.
