BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Thursday constituted Heritage Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to preserve the history and culture of Odisha. A notification in this regard was issued by the Parliamentary Affairs Department on Thursday. The Cabinet comprises eight members, including the Chief Minister. The other members are Ministers of Finance, Odia Language, Literature and Culture and Tourism, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, SC/ST Development, Higher Education, School and Mass Education and Electronics and Information.
While the Chief Secretary will be Secretary of Heritage Cabinet, Secretary in the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will be the convenor. Secretaries of all the departments concerned will be special invitees. The State Cabinet at its meeting held at Puri on December 26 last year had decided to set up the Heritage Cabinet.
Its aim is to spread and preserve history and culture of Odisha and enrich Odia language further. The notification said the Heritage Cabinet will maintain coordination between the institutions and departments working to preserve and spread Odia language, culture and literature. It will also prepare policies, and prepare and approve short-term and longterm plans.