Karnataka CM unfolds a brave new plan to enforce Kannada as compulsory language for 6 lakh govt employees. But 1.5 lakh employees do not know how to speak Kannada or read the script.
A day after Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan declared that no new taxi permits will be given to those not knowing Marathi, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa went a step ahead saying that it is now compulsory for all six lakh state government employees to know to read and speak Kannada, or face action.
Interestingly, Yeddyurappa’s oral diktat to the state government employees comes on the day that his Maharashtra counterpart chose to retract his ‘Marathi-must’ statement for aspiring Mumbai taxi drivers. The loud and clear warning that Yeddyurappa issued to the state government employees on Thursday is: “If the officers fail to follow the Kannada usage rule, it will be reflected in their annual track record and stringent action will be taken against them. The government will initiate stringent action against the officers of any rank not following the rules.”
But for those who can read the script and speak the language, there is a pleasant surprise in store. “The state government is seriously considering giving promotions and salary hikes to those who have learnt Kannada,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop on Kannada in administration.
Yeddyurappa’s firm message to the state government employees is: “Here on, don’t give any excuses for not learning Kannada. Only by learning Kannada can you serve as a government employee, otherwise be ready to face action.”
The warning is set to worry at least 1.5 lakh state government employees in Karnataka who do not know to speak Kannada or read the script.
Yeddyurappa did not specify what action those who do not know Kannada would face.
He said that for new entrants to state government services, who did not know the language, intensive Kannada coaching classes would be organised by Kannada Development Authority in association with other institutions to ensure that they are fluent in the language.
The chief minister said successive governments in the past had issued notifications making the usage of Kannada compulsory in administration, but lamented that it was never enforced.
He said, “The lack of will among the officers is the reason for the failure in implementing the project. Now it is high time for babus to pledge that they will use Kannada in the administration.
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