Jamshedpur: The Adivasi Ho Samaj Mahasabha has urged the Railways to install station nameplates and signboards in Warang Chiti, the script commonly used for the Ho language, at railway stations across the Kolhan division.The organisation submitted a memorandum to Chakradharpur DRM Tarun Huria seeking the installation of signboards and nameplates in Warang Chiti, besides announcements in the Ho language at railway stations.“Earlier, after persistent demands, signboards and nameplates in Warang Chiti script were installed at Ghaghra railway station in West Singhbhum. However, no other railway station in the three districts of Kolhan has station names or signboards in the Ho language,” said Manoharpur MLA Jagat Majhi.Majhi said he led a delegation to Huria two days ago and submitted the memorandum. According to the delegation, around a dozen railway stations in East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum have been identified for the installation of signboards in Ho.The prominent stations include Chaibasa, Chakradharpur, Goilkera, Manoharpur, Dangoaposi, Sini, Rajkharsawan, Mahalimarup and Haludpukur.The DRM is learnt to have assured the delegation that the demand would be examined and necessary measures taken.Scheduled Tribes account for around 67% of West Singhbhum’s population, while Ho is the primary language of 58% of the district’s population. As per the 2011 Census, West Singhbhum had a total population of 15,02,338. A sizeable Ho population also lives in parts of Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum, including Jamshedpur, Ghatsila and Potka.South Eastern Railway sources said demands for station signboards in Ol Chiki, the script used for Santhali, have long been raised in Bengal, Odisha and adjoining areas of Jharkhand. However, there has so far been relatively little demand for railway signboards in Ho.
