Odisha Assembly has passed the Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2018 making penal provisions for non-compliance and reward for extensive use of Odia by state government officials in official communication.
The bill introduced in the assembly yesterday by Parliamentary Affairs Minister B K Arukha was passed by voice vote.
The Assembly also passed the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (amendment) Bill-2018 to make Odia language mandatory on signboards of all shops and business establishments within Odisha.
Arukha said the Odisha Official Language Act, 1954 was enacted for adoption of Odia as the language to be used for all or any of the official purposes in the state. The present amendment has been made to the 1954 Act, he said.
"From now onwards government employees will be forced to do official business in Odia language. Employees will get incentives for using Odia in official business. Rules are being worked out over the quantum of penalty for violation," said government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy.
Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said, "We welcome the bill (amendment). However, violations and quantum of punishment have not been defined properly."
BJP member Pradip Purohit said, "The amendment is just a mere eyewash. It would have been better had it been passed after incorporating penal provisions."