Language row not to affect health services: AIIMS-Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A day after an office order of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar regarding usage of Hindi by its employees in official work sparked sharp reaction in political circles in Odisha, institute’s director Dr. Gitanjali Batmanabane today clarified that the order will not have any effect on healthcare services at the hospital.

“The circular is an internal memo which was circulated…because these is something called Official Language Act and we are supposed to comply with it. However, healthcare services for patients will remain unaffected,” she said.

On the other hand, Puri MP and BJD leader Pinaki Misra today met the director and submitted a memorandum of the party demanding withdrawal of the office order.

“We are the first state to be formed on linguistic basis and we will not allow anybody sidelining our mother tongue, particularly by any institution that is working for the people of our state. We will insist on Odia being used since our people are familiar with it and that will make their task of availing service at AIIMS easier,” the MP said.

In an office order signed by AIIMS, Bhubaneswar Deputy Director P K Ray on Thursday asked officials in the administration, academic section, finance and accounts and the heads of departments to carry out their works in Hindi under the provisions of the Official Language Rules, 1976.