Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has issued a directive requiring private and public sector industries to print their company name and usage instructions in Kannada, alongside other languages, as per the official statement from the Chief Minister's Office.
The Congress-led Karnataka government has issued a circular, dated February 15, signed by Under Secretary K. Umadevi, mandating industries to print product information in Kannada.
The circular states, "The language reflects the land's culture and traditions. It is essential for the growth of a language that the manufacturing, market and transactions should be conducted in local language. The Karnataka government has brought the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, on March 12, 2024."
According to Section 17(7) of the Act, 2022, all industrial and consumer products made and sold in Karnataka must display their name and usage instructions in Kannada, along with other languages.
"It is hereby directed to compulsorily print the name and user instructions and other information on all industrial and customer products in Kannada along with other languages," the circular said.
According to the Kannada Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, specifically Section 9, the Enforcement Directorate is tasked with ensuring that all government and private sector industries print their product names and user instructions in Kannada.
The circular in this regard has been sent to all the Additional Chief Secretaries, General Secretaries, Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of all city corporations, CEOs of all the Zilla Panchayats, Commissioner of Industries Development of the Industry and Commerce Department in Bengaluru and Director of MSMEs.
The decision of the Karnataka government is likely to trigger a debate in the state.
inputs from IANS