Hundreds of people from various walks of life including intellectuals, political leaders, activists and students under the banner of the Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani staged a dharna at PMG Square here on Monday demanding implementation of the Orissa Official language Act-1954, enacted by the then Chief Minister Nabakrushna Choudhury.
The protestors said the late former Chief Minister had enacted the law for use of Odia language in administrative and judicial works. But unfortunately, the Act is yet to be implemented, for which common people face a lot of difficulties in various Government establishments.
“In July, the Government had declared to implement the Act; however, no notification has been issued nor has any remarkable step been taken in this regard even though five months have elapsed since the declared promise,” alleged Sammilani convenor and BJD MP Baishnab Parida.
later, a team of delegations headed by Parida submitted a 10-point charter of demands to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The demands included immediate notification to administrative and judicial officials and Government departments to use Odia in official works, punishment for officials defying the rules, employment guarantee to students educated in Odia language, filling up of vacant posts for Odia teachers in secondary schools, colleges and universities, conduct of all Government departmental and administrative service examinations in Odia, compulsory use of Odia in nameplates of all Government and non-Government organisations, etc. .
Simultaneously, the Sammilani members also staged dharnas in front of all district Collector offices across the State and submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister through the Collectors.
Among others, political leaders cutting across party lines including Biswabhusan Harichandan, Sibaji Patnaik, Narayan Reddy, Rabi Behera and Panchanan Kanungo were present at the rally in Bhubaneswar.