6^th NATIONAL LANGUAGE CONFERENCE-2020

The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Odisha Legislature on 1966 and started functioning from 1st January, 1967.For the last fifty-two years it has remained committed to the pursuit of academic excellence and has earned credibility among the stakeholders. Having obtained from the NAAC an impressive A Grade and occupying a position within the first 150 universities in the NIRF ranking. This is an affiliating university, with 240 colleges still under its jurisdiction which is spread over as many as 10 districts of Odisha. The campus at JyotiVihar, Burla has 26 Postgraduate Departments in 42 subjects and establishing two Centres of Excellence, namely “Centre for Natural Products and Therapeutics” and “Centre for Regional Development and Tribal Studies”. Both Centres have started research projects that are need-based and have potential for huge knowledge-base. Currently, 40 Major Research Projects are being run by Sambalpur University. This University has already signed 13 MOUS with 7 are renowned overseas universities and another 6 are withIndian research institutes. This university has an enviable collection of historical artifacts, palm-leaf texts and prehistoric stones in the museum of the Department of History, and this Department is also collecting and curating ancient palm leaf texts from various regions of Odisha.As a leading academic institution in Odisha, Sambalpur University has been in many ways discharging its academic and social responsibilities forhuman capital growth and social transformation.

The Institute of Odia Studies and Research (IOSR),Bhubaneswar is a non-profit voluntary organization that devoted to the cause of Odia language, literature and culture as well as training and research in Odia in order to develop it into a language of knowledge and development. It played a key role in getting the Odia Language recognized by the Central Government in 2014 as a Classical Language. It has entered into a MoU with the Govt. of Odisha for ensuring extensive usage of Odia language in Government and with Utkal University for Computational Linguistics. IOSR prepared a handbook titled, “Sarakāri Bhasā Sahachara” with CMGI for Governance in Odia language. It has been imparting regular trainings through Odia medium to candidates aspiring for getting into various All-India and State administrative positions. It has organized Five National Language Conferences, during 2014–19.