Bhubaneswar, March 20: Finance minister Pradeep Amat's has proposed in his budget to set up Odia chairs in six universities to promote the language, but similar facilities at Utkal and Berhampur varsities are lying vacant for almost a decade.

To promote research in Odia language and literature, Amat yesterday announced the setting up of Adi Kabi Sarala Das Chair at the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Centre of Indian Languages in New Delhi.

The minister has also proposed to set up similar chairs at Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University, Sambalpur University, Berhampur University and Balasore's Fakir Mohan University.

Speaking to The Telegraph, culture minister Ashok Panda said: "The chairs will come up in Biju Patnaik's centenary year. Discussions are in advanced stages with these universities."

While the government is trying to score a few brownie points by announcing these new chairs, it is oblivious that three Odia chairs at Utkal University and one at Berhampur University have become non-operational for several years now.

The chairs, which were set up between 1985 and 1990, at these two universities had been named after Mayadhar Mansingh, Artha Ballava Mohanty and Satyabadi, the workplace of Pandit Gopabandhu Das, one of the architects of modern Odisha.

While eminent poet Mayadhar was the father of Lalit Mansingh the former Indian ambassador to the US, Artha Ballava Mohanty was a famous litterateur in his own right.

The government had set up the Mayadhar Mansingh chair to promote modern poetry, while the objective behind the Artha Ballava chair was to conduct research in ancient and modern literature.

The Satyabadi chair was set up to study the contribution of medieval poets in Odia literature.

The chair at Berhampur University was named after celebrated poet Upendra Bhanja. With the government not showing much interest, the coveted chair is lying vacant since 1999.

When The Telegraph spoke to Utkal University vice-chancellor Ashok Das on the issue, he did not betray his anger and disappointment with the state government.

Das said: "As the state government is not co-operating, how can we revive these chairs? We have already raised the issue with the government and demanded that the chairs be revived besides establishment of new chairs. However, our efforts have not borne fruit."

Utkal University's Odia department head Santosh Tripathy also expressed his anguish on the issue.

"I have written a number of articles on the issue. But, the state government is yet to wake up. Nasty politics at high level has to led to this situation," he said.

Tripathy said the government would need to spend only Rs 18 lakh annually to revive each of these chairs.

"It's unfortunate that no steps have been taken to revive them," he said.

Nityananda Satpathy, a renowned poet who had headed the Satyabadi chair from 1985 to 1997, said: "It reflects the state government's lack of commitment for the promotion of Odia language. When you are talking about setting up universities and chairs for promotion of Odia language, it is painful to see that the existing ones are lying vacant for years."

When The Telegraph asked Panda about the reason for the government's neglect of existing chairs, he said: "I will examine this issue. I have no idea about it now."

Culture secretary Manorajan Panigrahi was more forthcoming on the issue. He said: "There has been no such plan to revive these old chairs at this moment."

Since yesterday, The Telegraph made several attempts to elicit the response of the education minister Pradeep Panigrahi on the issue, but he was not available for comment on this sensitive issue.

BJD Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Parida, who as convener of Odia Bhasa Surakshya Samiti is fighting for the use of Odia in all official work, wants the government to step in revive the chairs.

Parida, who today met Assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari and a number of MLAs to seek their support for promotion of Odia language, said: "The government should initiate steps for revival of these chairs. I have urged the BJD leadership to ensure the implementation of Odisha Official Language Act, 1954, which envisages execution of all administrative work in Odia language."

Parida said: "We are planning a big campaign on April 1, which is Odisha Divas, to sensitise people on the promotion of Odia language."