BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to amend the Orissa Official Language Act, 1954 during the Budget session of the Assembly to make provision for punishment for violation of the legislation.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the committee constituted to implement provisions of the Act. The meeting was presided by Minister for School and Mass Education Debi Prasad Mishra. It was decided that steps will be taken to open temporary office of the Odia University announced byCM Naveen Patnaik on the campus of IIT, Bhubaneswar.
The committee had in its earlier meeting decided that Odia will be made compulsory subject upto Class X in all Government and private schools. It was decided that training will be imparted to special language teachers during the summer vacation for implementation of the decision.
Mishra assured the committee members that the Government will expedite the process for appointment of Odia language teachers in high schools. District Collectors will also be informed through video conferencing about the decision taken to write all billboards and name plates in Odia. Besides, a decision was taken to make the Odia Bhasa Pratisthan more active.