Bhubaneswar, Feb 28: Odisha Government has decided to send a proposal to the Centre to name the proposed premier Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Berhampur after Biju Patnaik during his birth centenary year.
This was decided at a ministerial level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pradip Amat here on Friday.
Notably, preparations have started for observing the birth centenary of Biju Patnaik, scheduled on March 5.
On this occasion, various programmes will be held across the State starting from gram panchayat level to State, national and international level from March 5 throughout the year.
A commemorative coin will be unveiled on occasion on March 5 and a colour calendar prepared by Information & Public Relations (I&PR) department featuring collection of Biju Patnaik’s photos will be given to all the panchayats, various educational institutions and government offices.
The I&PR department will produce a documentary on the life and work of Biju Babu.
A park named after the legendary leader is also planned in the Steel City Rourkela where a statute of the leader will be installed.
State Government has also decided to hold a photo exhibition featuring Biju Babu’s life and achievements and culture department will release a book in both Odia and English languages on Biju Patnaik.
Similarly, the Tourism department will launch a coffee-table book on the occasion.
Block, district and state level prose, debate, quiz and painting competitions will be held for students across the State by the School & Mass Education department. A booklet about Biju Babu will be unveiled for students during the occasion.
A ‘Biju Corner’ will be set up at State Museum and ‘Biju Memorial’ Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Programme will be organised in locations such as – Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Surat and Bengaluru while the government is considering to recreate Baliyatra held in 1992.
