Former Health Minister Dr Dinesh Sarangi has written to Chairman of Railway Board to restore of Odiya language in the railway station nameplates from Chakulia (Kanimohuli Halt) to Tatanagar under Kharagpur Railway Division situated in East Singhbhum.
In his letter, which is also marked to the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Dr Sarangi has said that this demand has also been raised during the S E Railway Zonal consultative meetings by Kunal Sarangi, former MLA and whip of opposition in Jharkhand Assembly. He wrote several letters. But there has been no outcome.
According to the former Health Minister, the railway stations like Tatanagar, Ghatshila, Dhalbhumgarh and Chakulia, cater to the passengers of Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and are their main railway head in Mumbai Howrah main line.
Moreover, the Government of India and the Ministry of Railways have sanctioned construction of Budamara-Chakulia Railway Line in the railway budget and some work orders have been issued for construction of railway quarters. On construction Chakulia will be a junction in future. Tata-Badampahad Railway Line and RajKharsawan-Barbil Railway Line connecting Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts of Odisha have junctions at Tatanagar and Rajkharsawan.
“From reliable sources, we have come to know that on the political pressure of two MPs, the railway is going to have nameplates in the above said station in English, Hindi, Bengali, Santhali (Olchiki) and announcements will also be made depriving Odiya language of its legitimate rights. That Odiya is a recognised language in the eighth schedule of the constitution and is one of the 2nd official languages in Jharkhand. We have no objection if all other constitutionally recognised languages of the area are written in railway stations.
We request you to pass immediate necessary orders for writing names in Odiya in stations from Chakulia (Kanimohuli Halt) to Tatanagar, in Railway tickets, and loudspeaker announcements along with English, Hindi, Bengali and Santhali in order to give justice and fair play Odiya linguistic Minorities in Jharkhand and protect of their constitutional rights,” Dr Sarangi noted in the letter.
According to Dr Sarangi, during British Period, Oriya names were written in all the stations of Singhbhum starting from Jeraikela, Goelkera to Chakulia. In 1970s it was erased due to conspiracy of some miscreants. On our representations to railway authorities and at the intervention of the then Union Deputy Minister C.P. Majhi was restored. Unfortunately, in the 1980s Oriya was erased from railway stations and tickets. The former Health Minister has demanded immediate steps to restore Odiya language.