Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said Kannadigas are not proud of their language and they should emulate their Tamil Nadu counterparts who love their mother tongue.
After releasing a book on activities of the Kannada Development Authority and its recommendations for the government here on Saturday, he said Kannadigas have always neglected their language. Hence, the government has to go the extra mile to create awareness among Kannadigas in this regard. Unlike Karnataka, in Tamil Nadu and other states, people love their language more than their life. “We should develop an affinity towards our mother tongue like Tamilians,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah said because of the influx of migrants in Bangalore, Kannadigas have become a minority. Hence, pro-Kannada organisations like Kannada Sahitya Parishat should join hands with the government to make non-Kannadigas learn the language, he said.
Siddaramaiah said his government has chalked out several programmes for the development of Kannada in border areas like special grants to Kannada Sahitya Parishat, financial assistance to hold Kannada Sammelanas and preference to Kannada in jobs.
“We are making earnest efforts to implement the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi report. Multi-national companies and other sectors have been instructed to give preference to Kannadigas during recruitment. The government is making efforts to implement Kannada in judiciary by publishing court orders in the language. The issue has been discussed with judicial authorities, he said.
The Chief Minister also expressed displeasure over officials not using Kannada while preparing files despite it being declared as the administrative language. Officials have been directed to sign files in Kannada compulsarily or these will be sent back, he said.
Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree said the Kannada Development Authority has made some recommendations for the development of the language and the government will consider them seriously and take steps towards implementing them. Kannada Development Authority chairman Mukyamantri Chandru, former MLA B L Shankar and others were present.