Cuttack, 28th Oct 2025: Everyone will get an opportunity to learn about the Odia language, literature, and timeless books. The initiative aims to increase interest in Odia literature among the youth. To achieve this, the district administration has started a special effort. During this year’s Bali Jatra, around one lakh books will be distributed free of cost to the public.
On Saturday, book donation centers were inaugurated, where anyone wishing to donate books can do so. Donors will receive a certificate of appreciation from the administration. The books collected will then be distributed free of cost during Bali Jatra.
The donation centers were opened at the Collectorate office, and District Collector Dattatraya Bhau Saheb Sinde personally donated books to inaugurate the initiative. Apart from the Collectorate in Cuttack city, centers have also been set up at Netaji Smarak, Kalyan Mandap near Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Barabati Palace, various blocks and tehsils in the district, and some schools.
There has been significant public interest in donating books at these centers. On the first day, some publishing houses and 75-year-old ailing woman Rebati Das donated books. As of today, over 5,000 books have been collected from various centers.
It is noteworthy that this initiative, launched with the goal of distributing one lakh books during Bali Jatra, also encourages the purchase of books by interested readers to achieve the target.
Among those present were District Collector Shiv Topo, Divyalocan Mahant, Ipsita Priyadarshini Mishra, and Banki Sub-Collector Pranab Kumar Behera, along with other officials.
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