The Odia Bhasha Sangram Samiti has suggested to the State Government to formulate required rules for strict implementation of the Odisha Official language Act 1954.
“The Samiti welcomes the Chief Minister’s announcement for strict implementation of the Odisha Official language Act. But it will not be implemented properly unless the Government effect some amendments to the Act as proposed in the third Ministerial Committee and bring in rules suggested by the Samiti,” Samiti members opined at an emergency meeting held here on Thursday evening.
A resolution passed at the meeting also suggested that the Government set up an Odia University of Study and Research instead of an Odia Open University as decided by the Chief Minister.
The members too expressed unhappiness that the Government has still remained silent on the Samiti’s demand for conduct of examinations for recruitments in Odia, introduction of Odia as medium of Model Schools and establishment of a Central Classical Odia Institution for classical Odia research.
“Even though some of decisions agree with certain Samiti demands, yet the decision to study official language use in other States is not acceptable to the Samiti. It is not needed when the Odisha Official language Act 1954 has already ensured use of Odia as official language in Odisha. The Government should refrain from making such a unnecessary study,” demanded the members.
The Samiti lamented that the Chief Minister’s announcement has not complied fully with the agreements made between the State Government and the Samiti.
Among others Samiti convenor Shankarshan Parida, Dr Debiprasanna Patnaik, Dr Natabar Satpathy, Hemant Rath and Santosh Patra were present.
Meanwhile, the Bhasha Suraksha Sammilani has greeted Chief Minister as his decision has met some of the Sammilani’s demands.
“The Chief Minister’s decision to implement the Odisha Official language Act is a welcome step. Similarly, his direction for use of Odia in writing of advertisements and name plates and appointment of Odia teaches in schools, colleges and universities and establishment of chairs for Odia research are too appreciated,” said Sammilani president Baishna Parida in a statement.
The Utkal Sammilani also thanked the Chief Minister for the decisions.
“The Utkal Sammilani had suggested the Government to use Odia in official letters and to put the Madhubarnabodha on the website. Chief Minister’s announcement for writing of Government notifications and invitation letters in Odia and digitization of Odia books has met our demands. Hence the Utkal Sammilani thanks the Chief Miniter,” said Sammilani’s Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Bhubaneswar Branch president Dillip Dashsharma.