Karnataka government earlier this week tabled the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022, in the legislative assembly.

This comes after the state saw severe opposition to Hindi Divas celebration by opposition leaders and Kannada activists.

On that occassion, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that for the first time, a legal framework is being given in the state, making Kannada mandatory, aimed at protecting the language and its users, and also to grow it further.

The bill was tabled in the assembly by Minister of Kannada and Culture Sunil Kumar Karkala, who called it a day to be inscribed in golden letters in the history of the state.

The bill provides reservations to Kannadiga in higher education and professional courses, and links any concessions or grant-in-aid for industries with jobs for locals.

Who Is A Kannadiga?

As per the bill, person must have lived in Karnataka for 15 years with knowledge of Kannada language to be called a Kannadiga.

Incentives and Penalties:

Industry and Enterprise

• Industrial establishments not giving first priority to Kannadigas in jobs, as prescribed, will not be eligible for rebates, tax exemptions and incentives from the state.

• It also says workshops should be held to teach Kannada to non-Kannada speakers in industrial establishments, state or central government offices with more than 100 employees.

• Kannada will be mandatory in nameboards. If any shopkeeper or commercial establishment is involved in any violation, like showing disregard for giving primacy to Kannada in name boards, he will be subjected to a penalty of upto Rs 5,000 for the first offence and upto Rs 10,000 for the second offence.

  Later, offender is liable for a fine upto Rs 20,000, after issuing notice, besides there is also provision for cancellation of licence.

Education: Reservation will be provided in higher, technical and professional education for students who have studied in Kannada medium from class 1 to 10 in Karnataka or in Kannada Medium Schools in any other states.

Government Jobs and Offices:

• Kannada language shall be used for all the official and administrative purposes and correspondences in the state, including by all local authorities, in all bills and acts at the state legislature, orders, rules, regulations or bye-laws issued by the government and its related bodies.

  All existing legislations in English language enacted by the state before the commencement of this act shall be translated and published in Kannada.

• The government will create an employment portal to notify vacancies for government offices, public enterprises, and private companies.

• The draft bill states lower courts, state tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies should transact proceedings and issue orders in Kannada, but provides some provisions for usage of English language.

• Kannada will be mandatory in programme brochures, banners of government and its funded organisations.

• Any lapse or negligence on the part of an officer to implement the official language will be considered as dereliction of duty and will be subjected to disciplinary action.

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