Almost after four years of struggle and State-wide protest by the Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani, the Orissa Official language Act, 1954, was implemented in the State. The State Government has published a notice in this regard in English language, said Sammilani president Baishnab Parida at a Press meet here on Friday.
Parida said, “like other regional languages, we do not have directorate and commission. No language body has been formed to monitor actual implementation of the rules.”
Sammilani members demanded a language commission in the State to implement the Orissa Official language Act 1954 properly.
Parida also said the commission can supervise as to how the Act is implemented in Government offices.
He also gave example of Government’s Rashtrabhasha Ayog and language commissions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The commission can also recommend using Odia language for official works instead of using English, he added.
He condemned the decision of the State Government that one Joint Secretary has been appointed in language Department to supervise the implementation of the Act.
The Sammilani also demanded action against the officials who would not go by the Act. Prof Nityananda Satapathy and Hrudaya Ballav Das were present among others.
The Sammilani requested all the MlAs, cutting across party lines, to support the demand to form a language commission.
“If the State Government fails to fulfil our demands, we would stage demonstration,” said Parida.