Electric Bills in Odia Language: A new Initiative in Mayurbhanj

By Janakiballav Dash: Erstwhile Mayurbhanj state with its curved out regions of Sareikala, Kharswan, Khandmauda boast of promoting Odia language with the active involvement of Greats like Gopabandhu, Madhusudan &  Radhanath in patronisation of Mayurbhanj Maharaja’s but after its merger with Indian Union the state has not only deprived of its Odiaa-promoting-policy but many of its Odia speaking zones are fast turning into half Bengali-Hindi speaking regions as pone can see to believe in adjacent areas of Chinchda, Fenko, Behragora, Gopiballavpur, etc.

While MP Baishnab Parida’s brigade is demanding use of Odia language in every official work but they failed to work it out with grass root level which the former Kusalda Sarpanch Shri Bhabani Shankar Mohapatra has capable of gearing people into a sort of movement.

This Sarpanch after seeing & going through years of tortures, irregularities at the hands of electric company have started demanding Electric bills in Odia language for easy comprehension of common men. Presently English language billing system with complicated terms of electricity discoms are not only apprehensible but also couldn’t be able to understand if one sees the prevalent practice of these discoms which needed bills in Odia for easy comprehension about dues from public.

Accordingly a consumer complaint has been filed in Dist.Consumer Court here CD Case No-23/2015 making parties to state energy department, OERC, & others praying the forum to issue direction for billing system in Odia for all consumers. A model Odia proposed bill has also been prepared which whether the discoms could have opt or modify accordingly to suit to their business, stated the petitioner.

This has led a new arena for debate & discussion among public as everybody prefers this idea of electric billing in Odia language for easy understanding.While the MP’s brigade is demanding workability in Odia language in all official works but they could forgot to workout their ideas on few such things which cover a multitude of beings in state.