Principal Secretary Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Bishnupada Sethi stressed on strengthening Odisha State Archives and urged for focusing on digitization of paper records.
Mr.Sethi was speaking at a ceremony organized to celebrate Archives Week.
He stressed upon that the crucial documents need to be preserved and the records in shape of volumes, loose sheets, files, old gazettes, maps and newspapers housed in the archives need to be digitized.
Mr.Sethi said these documents contain the most valuable information on the history of formation of Modern Odisha such as the freedom struggle, creation of Odisha province, natural calamities, first settlement in the state and account of the social customs prevailing during the earlier time such as sati and human sacrifice. The records also include documents from the pre-Independence era.
Mr.Sethi harped on collection of records of Maratha Rule, Jamindars, Kings and Rulers.
Professor Ashok Kumar Patnaik harped on collection and restoration of documents on Corporate Sector, Union Government, State Government, District Boards, Banking Sector, Cooperative and survey Reports as well.
Prof.Patnaik made a query about collection of documents on Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Odisha Visit and Netaji Subash Cahndra Bose’s connect with Odisha.
Director Culture Ranjan Kumar Das urged upon collection of documents of personalities like Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Madhu sudan Das, Subash Chandra Bose and others.
Odisha State Archives Superintendent Sk Soleman Ali presented details on State Archives.
Technical Assistant Upendra Kumar Behera presented Vote of Thanks.