Kalinga TV News Network
Baripada: Life came to a standstill in Baripada area in Mayurbhanj district today following a 12-hour bandh call given by Adibasi Revolutionary Youth and Students Association in demand for a Santali language university in the district.
While schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Baripada town remained closed during the bandh observation, shops also downed their shutters in view of the protests by bandh supporters which started from 6 AM in the morning.
Commuters faced a tough time as private and government bus services remained cancelled in Baripada area due to protests by association members during the bandh observation. Hundreds of vehicles including goods trucks remained stranded on both sides of the NH-18 passing through Baripada for hours as protestors resorted to picketing and staged road blockade by burning tyres.
Meanwhile, Adibasi Student Association (ASA) has also extended its support to the bandh. The union is demanding a permanent building to house Santali Training Centre and publication of books in Santali language among others.
Notably, the Santali language protests gathered momentum in Mayurbhanj for last couple of days after the Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) didn’t include Santali language in its Ujjwal Program recently.
Ujjwal Program is aimed at boosting the quality of primary education in the state.
Ms Kalinga