Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has laid emphasis on the use of the mother tongue, particularly in foundational education. Naidu further called upon State governments to facilitate the smooth implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 across schools and educational institutions.
Addressing a gathering after presenting the Dr C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award to Odia writer Dr Pratibha Ray, Naidu spoke about Dr C. Narayana Reddy’s “invaluable contribution” to Telugu literature and language.
Naidu also added that Dr Reddy, in his role as Parliamentarian in the Rajya Sabha, strove tirelessly to champion the use of the mother tongue in education.
The Odia writer and winner of the Dr C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award, Dr Ray, is also a prolific writer, particularly in the Odia language. Her novels and short stories have garnered widespread acclaim and hold up pertinent social issues in front of her readers. She received the Jnanpith Award in 2011, the Padma Shri in 2007 and the Padma Bhushan in 2022, in recognition of her contribution to literature.