Bhubaneswar, Aug 16: From today onwards all official documentations including government letters, files and other official work at government offices across Odisha will be carried out in Odia language.
After hours and days of wait finally the Odia Official Language Act-1954 was implemented and its rules were approved. Therefore, the Cabinet recently fulfilled the long-standing demand of linguists, litterateurs and Odia language lovers across the State. A committee headed by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has been constituted in order to ensure mandatory use of the language in all Government work. The panel would review the use of the mother tongue every six months. A special language division would also function under the General Administration (GA) department to see how the Act is being implemented. However, linguists in the State have questioned the efficiency and actual implementation of the Act.
Padmashri awardee noted linguist Debi Prasanna Patnaik said unlike Hindi and other regional languages in various States, no directorate, commission or body has been formed in Odisha to monitor the actual implementation of the rules. Notably, on Aug 12 the State Cabinet approved the rules under the Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2016. Proper enactment of the Act was approved in the Cabinet meeting held in the first week of August.
