The Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani for the last five years is holding agitation across the State for implementation of the Odisha Official language Act 1954 and extensive use of Odia in the fields of administration, judiciary, Assembly and business.
The State Government on pressure from 4 crore Odias on May 21, 2016 promulgated an Ordinance for implementation of the Act and framed rules under it. Similarly, it was official announced that the Act would be implemented from August 16, pointed out Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani president Baishnab Parida at a Press conference here.
Parida said the Sammilani then had advised the State Government to form a high-level language Commission and take measures for provision of punishment for the violators of the law. But the Government without paying heed to the Sammilani’s advice formed a language Division under the supervision of a Joint Secretary. The Chief Secretary was asked to review activities of the language Division in six months.
In the meantime from August 16, 2016, a year has passed. From the State Secretariat to the Government’s different departments not a single file’s documents have been written in Odia or the Chief Minister, Minister or officers have signed in Odia. In the courts also the works have not been done in Odia. Similarly, neither in the Government or private offices or in the business establishment English name plates or signages has been changed, he said.
Due to the Government’s step-motherly and lackadaisical attitude towards Odia language, for the last 62 years Odia language Act has not been implemented. The Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani will be forced to embark on an agitation, said Parida.
Among others, Sammilani vice-president Professor Nityananda Satpathy, former Chief Secretary Sahadeb Sahoo, former Judge Hrudaya Ballabh Das and general secretary Bijay Mohanty were present.