The state Cabinet of Odisha on Wednesday made a significant decision that would strengthen the partys outreach to tribals, among several other choices made by the state administration in advance of the assembly elections due for next year.The chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also supported the proposal which has recommended the Saora language to the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.The introduction of the Saora language, according to the Minister of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (ST & SC) Development Jagannath Saraka, will aid in the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the tribal language and culture.“It will create an eco-system to facilitate research & studies anchored around preservation, promotion and propagation of the tribal language. Besides, activities such as publication, creation of content and recognition will get momentum,” Sakara said.There are currently 22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution making them the mode of communication in government businesses.ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @Naveen_Odisha ଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ #OdishaCabinet ବୈଠକରେ ସଉରା ଭାଷାକୁ ଭାରତୀୟ ସମ୍ବିଧାନର ୮ମ ଅନୁଚ୍ଛେଦରେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ ସୁପାରିଶ୍ କରାଯାଇଛି। ସଉରା ଭାଷା, ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ, ବିକାଶ ଓ ଗବେଷଣାକୁ ଆଗକୁ ନେବା ସହ ୫ଲକ୍ଷରୁ ଅଧିକ ସଉରା ଭାଷାଭାଷୀ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏହା ନୂଆ ସୁଯୋଗ… pic.twitter.com/rTMg24Ic6W— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) June 21, 2023The chief ministers office of Odisha, taking it to Twitter stated, “In the meeting #OdishaCabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Shri @Naveen_Odisha the proposal to include Saora language in Article 8 of the Indian Constitution has been recommended. It will advance the preservation, development and research of the Saora language, and culture and bring new opportunities to the more than 5 million Saora-speaking people.”In 2004, four languages, Santhali, Maithili, Bodo, and Dogri were given the honour of being listed in the 8th Schedule by the then-Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government.With 62 tribes, including 13 highly vulnerable tribes, Odisha is known for having one of Indias most diverse tribal populations. Nearly 23% of its people speak 21 tribal languages in 74 dialects.
