Karnataka likely to make Kannada mandatory for bank employees

The Karnataka government may soon make it mandatory for bank employees to learn Kannada and communicate with the locals in that language.

The move is considered as an attempt to address the long-standing demand for making the Kannada language compulsory. Many residents of the state find it difficult to communicate with bank employees in languages other than Kannada.

Speaking to the Economic Times, Kannada Development Authority (KDA) secretary Santhosh Hangal indicated that the state government may release an official notification in the matter soon.

The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had passed the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022, in March this year, which was aimed to promote Kannada in government offices.

However, the bill was not implemented.

Speaking to the Economic Times, Santosh Hangal said, "We expect a notification from the government in the next couple of days."

The Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022, cleared by the Karnataka Assembly, mandated that any person seeking employment in the Karnataka government or employment in any local authorities, boards, corporations, statutory or non-statutory bodies or registered co-operative societies and other societies in the state to compulsory pass "Kannada language examination".

The bill also mandated banks with more than 100 employees to establish 'Kannada Cell' headed by senior employees having knowledge of the language for the purpose of use of the language in day-to-day work functions.

In August 2017, the KDA passed an order where it instructed non-Kannadiga employees working in government and rural banks to learn Kannada in six months or leave their jobs.