Recognize Kosali as official language of Odisha stateand make Odisha bi-lingual, demands Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee on the occasion of International Mother Language Day jointly celebrated by Campaign for Language Equality and Rights (CLEAR), Bharatiya Bhasa Samooh and Maithili-Bhojpuri Academy Delhi at Press Club of India, New Delhi.
Noted Kosali language activist and Co-ordinator Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee Saket Sreebhushan Sahu said, currently, notices are given in the villages of western Odisha in Odia. Not very literates understand the full implications of these notices. Civil servants from other areas who do not even have rudimentary knowledge of Kosali language cannot communicate with citizens, thus resulting in miscommunication. Out of 29 states, 15 have more than one official language. Out of 7 union territories, 6 have more than one recognized language. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a fundamental right of the citizen. Good governance requires efficient communication between the citizens and the government. In this context, Kosali language should be recognized as the official language of Odisha along with Odia. This will facilitate governance in western Odisha which is educationally backward and affluent with adivasis.
He added, in Odisha, Kosali language speakers and Odia language speakers pays equal taxes but Kosali language speakers are not enjoying equal rights that with Odia. The government is showing disparities to Kosali.
