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“In Rayagada in Odisha, Kondh parents distinguish between dangar patha (mountain learning) and kagaj patha (paper learning). Asked which they prefer, many parents answer ‘both’. This expresses a need deeply felt by Adivasis: literacy, with fluency in the regional language or English, is important; but so is respect for native languages and knowledge systems linked to the land and forest.” – Felix Padel & Malvika Gupta in “Are mega residential schools wiping out India’s Adivasi culture?” (The Hindu, 13 February 2021) | Indian tribal cultural heritage | Odisha | Rayagada by PARI >>
“English newspapers are worse than Hindi on representing Dalit, Adivasi writers.” – (The Caravan, 3 August 2019) >>
Though Odia is the official language, there are 22 officially recognized tribal languages in Odisha. The overall literacy rate of Odisha has increased from 49 per cent in 1991 to 73 per cent in 2011. The literacy rate among tribal population has also demonstrated the increasing trend over the years, yet the gap between tribal literacy and that of entire population continues to be significantly high.
Source: “Multilingual Education (MLE) for Tribal Children of Odisha” l Backup
URL: https://repository.education.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/multilingual-education-mle-for-tribal-children-of-odisha.pdf
Date Visited: 29 April 2025
“National development and the development of tribal communities are linked to each other.” – Droupadi Murmu | Speeches by the President of India >>