The Sundargarh district administration has asked the business communities of the district to write t0heir nameplates in Odia.
In a meeting with representatives of various trade and commerce bodies of the district at Sundargarh following the State Government’ recent initiative to promote Odia language, besides appealing them to follow the guideline, the administration gave an ultimatum of three days for the purpose and warned of imposing of penalty in case of lapses.
As per the provision of section 38 of Shops and Commercial Establishment Odisha Act 1956, penalty can be imposed on the establishments, which do not write their nameplates in Odia. But, as per that provision, the penalty amount was Rs 5,000 only.
Considering that majority of the establishments are not following the directive, despite the provision of the law, the State Cabinet recently had approved for increase of penalty to Rs 25,000 for the defaulters.
"Besides the provision of the law, I appeal all the commercial establishments of the district to write their nameplates in Odia language, as a mark of respect to the language and mother land," said Collector Vineet Bharadwaj.
The District labour Office is the enforcement authority of the law.
"Different squads have been formed for different localities of the district and by now about 46 business houses have been served show cause notices in Rourkela area and about 22 business houses have been served show cause notices in Sundargarh area,” said District labour Officer PK Patra.