Koraput Regional Concern: People in border areas of Odisha are increasingly speaking Telugu instead of Odia. Call for Action: Intellectuals urge the government to take steps for the protection of the Odia language.
Language Shift in Border Villages
On the occasion of Odisha Day, which marks the foundation of Odisha state and Koraput district, concerns have been raised about the language shift happening in border areas. People in Nandapur, Lamtaput, Pottangi, Bandhugaon, and Narayanapatna blocks of Koraput district are gradually replacing their native language with Telugu.
Although local communities traditionally speak Kui, Paraja, Bhumia, Bhatra, and Gadaba languages, schools in the region follow an Odia-medium curriculum. However, due to close economic and social ties with Andhra Pradesh, locals are adopting Telugu in daily communication.
Dependence on Andhra Pradesh
Trade & Commerce: Many villagers rely on Andhra Pradesh markets for selling agricultural produce and purchasing essentials.
Marriage & Education: People prefer Andhra Pradesh for education, healthcare, and even matrimonial alliances.
Employment & Signboards: Government employment schemes such as MGNREGA display information boards in Telugu, further influencing the language shift.
Concerns Over Odia Language Decline
As villagers increasingly use Telugu and English for writing and communication, concerns about the future of the Odia language have grown. Experts argue that such a transition may harm the cultural identity of these communities.
Nandapur Block Development Officer Durga Prasad Dora and linguist-educator Bhavani Nandan Pattnaik have stated that the Odisha government’s Culture and Education Departments are aware of the issue.
Government Measures for Language Preservation
The district education department has taken initiatives to preserve indigenous languages by appointing 364 teachers for tribal languages like Paraja, Kui, Gadaba, Bhumia, and Bhatra under the Special Language Education (SLE) program. In Nandapur block alone, 53 teachers have been deployed to teach Paraja language.
Despite these efforts, experts stress that more proactive steps are needed to ensure that border communities do not drift away from their mother tongue.