Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly Pradipta Kumar Naik has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging him to take necessary steps to ensure use of Odia language in all proceedings of the legislature.
In the letter, the BJP legislator has alleged that the Government’s decision to use Odia in all Government works has remained only in pen and papers. But due to step-motherly attitude towards the mother tongue, almost all letters in Assembly and Lok Seva Bhawan (Secretariat) are being written in English. Besides, several judicial reports, departmental expenditure reports, commission reports and various notices are also being released in English, he has pointed out.
“On November 4, 2011, the name of the State was changed from Orissa to Odisha and the language from Oriya to Odia. However, the State’s name has not been changed in the signage of the High Court. This can be changed if the Government remains determined to do the same” Naik has stated in his letter.
He has opined that besides judicial works, court judgements can also be pronounced in Odia. “While several other States have taken such initiative to promote their mother tongue, why can’t Odish replicate the same,” he has questioned.
Naik has stated in his letter, “I request you take immediate steps for usage of Odia in all Government works, Assembly and judicial proceedings for the larger interest of the people of the State.”
