'Learn Kannada or leave Karnataka', KDA's diktat to babus
- KDA officials are raiding government offices to check for proper implementation of Kannada
- The KDA has stated that all senior non-Kannadiga officials have to learn the language within six months or leave the state
- They are also raiding factories and manufacturing units to ensure that more local people are hired
FollowThe Kannada Development Authority (KDA) is working overtime to promote Kannada in all government departments. It was the Department of Horticulture in Lalbagh that was under the KDA's scanner on Wednesday, July 2.
KDA officials including chairman Siddaramaiah and Secretary Dr Muralidhara arrived at Lalbagh botanical garden. They left a list of instructions to Prabhash Chandra Ray, Commissioner, Department of Horticulture, Lalbagh.
The instructions included the removal of all Hindi signboards and warnings at the garden. The KDA has asked for employee details at the horticulture department hired on contractbasis to ensure that the department was following the state government policy of Group C and D employees being fluent in Kannada.
“We had received information that Kannada was being downplayed at Lalbagh. After our inspection, we found it so. Kannada should be given equal prominence. We have also asked the officials to ensure that the official portal of the department has content in Kannada and English as an option,” said Siddaramaiah to Bangalore Mirror.
The KDA has conducted similar raids in 14 districts across the state. Several non-Kannadiga senior officials have been given copies of Kannada books to brush up their basic skills within three months.
The chairman has also said that the senior officials should learn Kannada within six months or leave the state, reported the Bangalore Mirror. “Every non-Kannada-speaking senior official should pick up the language within six months, or they should leave Karnataka. So far, I have inspected 15 departments in Bengaluru, and we are also doing the same in 15 districts as of now. We have already had meetings with the education department, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, and the police department in this regard,” Siddaramaiah stated.
The KDA has also been visiting factories and other manufacturing units to ensure that Kannada speaking people are hired in larger numbers.
The KDA is also planning to add more Kannada coaching centres. Around 30 Kannada coaching centres are receiving financial support from KDA. They will also work with residential associations and send a Kannada tutor to each association to teach Kannada on the weekends.
