New Delhi: The National Education Policy 2020, has laid stress on promotion of Indian
Language. Based on the same, AICTE has made enabling provisions for technical institutes to
begin courses in regional language for students to pursue technical education in their mother
tongue. In order to facilitate the preparation and introduction of technical-books in Odia at
Degree and Diploma Level from the academic session of 2022, AICTE and Institute of Odia
Studies and Research (IOSR) executed Memorandum of Understanding on 18 Oct 2021 in the presence of Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan at IIT Kharagpur Extension, Bhubneshwar.
The NEP envisions that higher educational institutes will use the mother tongue/local language as a medium of instruction, and/or offer programmes bilingually, in order to increase access and Gross enrolment ratio. This shall also promote the strength, usage, and vibrancy of all
Indian languages. The Policy recognizes that the knowledge of the rich diversity of India should
be imbibed first hand by learners. Moreover, creation of such programmes and imparting
knowledge in regional languages is likely to expand the opportunities for employment for
students especially from rural area who can actually make effective use of higher qualifications.
To facilitate students, adopt & learn the technical curriculum in regional languages, AICTE has
already prepared books for the first year Undergraduate courses in 5 regional languages i.e Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali & Marathi. Similarly, first year books for Diploma students in 8 regional languages have also been readied. The 8 languages are Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali,
Marathi, Punjabi, Gujrati & Kannada.
Under the current MoU, IOSR will facilitate in nominating translators, reviewers and
academicians involved in translation; review of the Odia versions of original books in English
applicable to Degree and Diploma as provided by AICTE. The expenditure for this translation and its review of model texts-books will be borne by AICTE. An Honorarium of Rs 1 Lac per
book shall be paid to the translator.
Odia Language Reviewers shall be paid an honorarium of Rs 40,000 per book. If the services of more than one translator/ reviewer is involved, then the amount will be split proportionally between them. Additionally, AICTE will also pay an honorarium of Rs 50,000 to the IOSR’s nominated coordinator per annum. AICTE shall also undertake publication of the books in the Odia version after the final approval from IOSR on
the acceptance of the Odia version. In order to make the translation relevant, IOSR will
undertake the task of providing suitable glossary in Odia for specific technical / scientific terms
utilized in the technical books for five disciplines namely, Mechanical, Electronics, Civil,
Electrical and Computer Engineering. This arrangement shall be effective up to a maximum of two years.
Speaking on the occasion Prof Anil D Shahasrabudhe, Chairman AICTE said, “Learning in your own mother tongue is inherently much simpler and more effective. This greatly enhances a student’s ability especially from a rural background to learn and apply his technical skills in a much better way. It shall also promote & enhance the innovations as well. AICTE has already granted permission to 20 institutes to impart technical programmes in regional language by granting supernumerary seats. In this context, the present MoU between AICTE & IOSR for translating books in Odia language shall be helpful to all students in the state of Orissa.”
Shri Abasar Beuria, Chairman IOSR said, ‘This is a big occasion for IOSR. As part of its mission
to develop Odia as a language of knowledge as well as development, the current MoU shall
greatly expand the proliferation of Odia amongst technical institutes and students. We shall
endeavour to convert maximum technical books in Odia language so that the technical
institutes in the state of Orissa can also start their courses in regional language.”
Speaking on the occasion Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Young children learn and grasp concepts more quickly in their home language/mother tongue. Indian languages are a repository of ancient wisdom which provides a large scope for research and innovation. Students especially from rural backgrounds have immense potential and books in regional language will help them to gain technical knowledge. This shall enable such students to apply their experiential learning in much better form and help them to become employable and be helpful to society. Hence, it has the potential to fulfil the vision of Atama Nirbhar Baharat as well. I congratulate AICTE & IOSR for executing this MoU under which the
translation work of books in Odia language will be undertaken. Such MoUs are actually an
enabling mechanism for effective implementation of National Education Policy and shall help fulfil gaps in providing high-quality textbooks in the mother tongue.”