Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: The Odisha government has once again emphasized that all shops and commercial establishments across the state must display their signboards in the Odia script. Labour & Employees’ State Insurance Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia made the announcement in the State Assembly on Tuesday, while responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

The minister stated that the rule is compulsory for every commercial entity and strict enforcement measures are being taken. As part of the compliance drive, the government conducted inspections of 2,852 establishments across different districts during the ongoing financial year 2025-26.

The inspection reports revealed that 1,606 establishments were not displaying signboards in Odia, in violation of the directive. Accordingly, show-cause notices have been issued to all these establishments, and legal action has already been initiated against 100 violators under the Shops and Establishments Act.

The minister further said the government is committed to protecting and promoting the Odia language, ensuring its visibility in public spaces. He also appealed to traders and business owners to voluntarily adopt the rule, highlighting that the use of Odia script on signboards is both a legal requirement and a cultural responsibility.

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