The state government has sought inclusion of Odia as a medium in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Neet) for undergraduate medical admissions.  The Centre’s list of eight regional languages in which the tests will be conducted, does not include Odia. The Telegraph spoke to a cross-section of people on the exclusion of the classical language from the list

Inclusion of Odia in Neet will help Odias appearing in the entrance. Many medical aspirants from the state would surely prefer to take the test in their native language. The Centre’s policy will also give undue advantage to English-medium school students. Also, Odia is a classical language. So, it should get a place in the list 

Vikram Samal 
senior resident doctor, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack 

Medical education should be above the barriers of language or region. If these studies are done in regional languages, we will restrict the growth of the professionals. Those studying medicine in regional languages will read books and journals in that language. Translating all the books and study materials in all regional languages is not practically possible. Moreover, a person studying medicine in a regional language will be restricting himself to that state only. I feel higher education should be above any language barrier. 

Vijay Aggarwal 
associate vice-president, Amri Hospitals, Bhubaneswar

When Neet was introduced, many Odia scholars had written to the state government to ensure that the exam is also conducted in Odia. But, no attention was paid to the matter then. Around 50,000 students appear for the exam from the state every year. If Odia is also included in the list, then the number of aspirants will definitely increase even more. 

Subrat Prusty 
secretary, Institute of Odia Studies and Research

Earlier, students were not allowed to write exams in languages other than English and Hindi. But, if the practice starts now, Odia should also be included. Even if the Centre says that the state government had not suggested earlier, the matter should be sorted out.  But, along with inclusion of Odia, attempts should also be made to create more study materials in the language. 

Pritish Acharya
academic

Most medical terms are used in English and there is actually no necessity of any other regional language. Moreover, after cracking the exam one doesn’t know whether he or she will study at his home state. So, how are they going to manage then? Instead, students should be given special training to understand English and Hindi in a better way

Jaladhar Sethi, president, Odisha 
Pharmacists’ Service Association