Bhubaneswar: Odisha Sahitya Akademi will take steps to promote reading habits among the youngsters.

Its 61st foundation day was held on Wednesday. "The initiative will let the readers, especially the young ones, build awareness about Odia literature," said Akademi secretary Jayanti Rath.

There are plans to translate popular Odia novels into Hindi and Bengali. All these would be available in the Akademi.

Writers feel that there is a lot that the Akademi needs to work on, including bringing out the unpublished works of age-old writers. "It is time some person or organisation took the initiative to publish such works. I strongly believe that the Sahitya Akademi is the right agency to take up it," said Snehalata Behera, a writer.#Poet Ramakanta Rath was presented the Atibadi Jagannath Das Puraskar, the state's highest literary award.

Presenting the award, culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda announced that Rs 1 crore would be provided to develop Aitbadi Jagannath Das's birthplace and Satlahandi Mutt at Puri, where he used to reside. Besides, the cultural grant of Rs 25,000 each will be enhanced to Rs 50,000 to popularise Bhagabat tungis.