State Pulse: Orissa shows the way

Orissa under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his BJD has brought governance closer to its people at the grassroots. On Saturday last week, the State Government adopted Oriya as the official language of communication at the block, tehsil and district levels. All administrative functions and transactions at these levels will henceforth be made in Oriya only instead of English. A top-level committee has been formed to oversee early execution of the decision and evolve a "simple and easily conceivable" document outlining Oriya words and terminology that is to be used in official communication. Significantly, Orissa has shown good sense and pragmatism in the matter and not allowed linguistic chauvinism to play havoc. It has decided at the highest level that largely used English words such as chair, table, engine and block office will be treated as Oriya terms as their translated forms are comparatively difficult to be understood by the masses and could end up causing avoidable confusion! Three cheers!
CM Chavan in trouble.Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is in electoral trouble for having promised a special bonus of Rs 5 lakh each for the three Nanded villages where he polled the highest votes in the recent Assembly poll. The State's Chief Election Officer, following an order from the Election Commission, has initiated a probe into Chavan's assurances to the three villages during a felicitation function following his victory. The CEO has sought a report from the Nanded District Collector at the earliest and specified that the report be in English. The probe was ordered on a complaint by BJP legislator Vinod Tawde who said the CM's promise amounted to bribery. Said Tawde: "The CM cannot be partial. He is in charge of the entire State's welfare." Interestingly, Tawde added: "I had complained to the State Election Office but they didn't do anything. The Election Commission took cognizance of my complaints". Chavan has denied making any statement that violates the code of conduct. However, he added: "I am ready for any inquiry."Gujarat turns fiftyGujarat celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation last Friday amidst remarkable bonhomie. Leader of all the political parties gathered together on a common platform in the Assembly where Chief Minister Narendra Modi moved a resolution and invoked the "Narmada Spirit" to appeal to all to "rise above party politics" for the State's development. He was clearly referring to the united stand that the people of Gujarat had taken on construction of the Narmada dam decades earlier. The Opposition leader, Shaktisinh Gohil supported the resolution but hastened to add that the credit for progress of Gujarat could not go to any one individual as "development is in the genes of every Gujarati." When anti-Narmada activists had assembled at Pherkuan to oppose the dam, he recalled, "every pujari and maulvi in Gujarat had united to realize the dam"! Nevertheless, Modi received bouquets galore on the occasion for his many initiatives, both developmental and political. Importantly, a fortnight ago, he invited Infosys' Chief Mentor, Narayan Murthy, to come to Gujarat and guide the State Government as advisor.