The Karnataka Assembly recently passed the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Bill, which mandates having 60 per cent of signage in Kannada
In a bid to ensure that multinational companies in Karnataka employ a sufficient number of people from the state, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is planning to ask the firms to display the number of Kannadigas they employ on their notice boards.
In this regard, Kannada & Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has formed a committee comprising secretaries of various departments to provide their suggestions on framing the rules. The committee is headed by Tangadagi himself.
“There has been a discussion to ensure that industries put up display boards on the number of Kannadigas they have employed. We will frame rules for that. A committee has been formed and I’m its chairman. We have secretaries of many departments and they have given suggestions. We will discuss and form the rules for industries and multi-national companies,” the Minister said.
Kannada activists have welcomed the government’s move, calling it a good step towards providing more employment opportunities for Kannadigas.
“It’s a welcome move. The companies get some subsidies and it’s from the taxpayers’ money. It’s a good move to ensure private companies employ more Kannadigas and I think there’s a clause as well for the companies to employ Kannadigas,” Kannada activist Chetan Jeeral said.
Jeeral added, “Some companies would employ few individuals from other states for some specific roles but I don’t think there’s a dearth of talent in the Karnataka state.”
The latest move by the Karnataka government follows the Siddaramaiah cabinet’s decision to form a law that directs the signboards to include 60 per cent Kannada language on the signboards of commercial establishments.