After Namma Metro, activists takes on banks, say #Nammabankukannadabeku
Local news reports for some time now have been highlighting the plight of local consumers and customers who do not know English or Hindi and are finding it hard to conduct banking transactions. Photo via Twitter. Representational Image.
With over 13000 tweets since last evening, Twitter is abuzz with the trending hashtag #Nammabankukannadabeku.
For the non-Kannada speaking, the hashtag translates to 'Our banks want Kannada', a reference to the position of various outfits and political parties that are demanding all banks which fall in Karnataka to allow consumers to use their facilities in their indigenous language.
Local news reports for some time now have been highlighting the plight of local consumers and customers who do not know English or Hindi and are finding it hard to conduct banking transactions. This was amplified since after the demonetization move in November of last year.
Since the issue cropped up, the official line of the ruling party on the issue has been to strengthen and fix the existing provisions which mandate all bank employees to conduct official bank work in English, Hindi and the local language.
Speaking at the 132nd state level Bankers' Committee meeting in September of last year, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said:
"Our Government is committed to protecting and encouraging the art, culture and rich heritage of our state. Since Kannada is the administrative language in Karnataka...It has been observed that banks, while preparing challans, passbooks, loan applications, account opening forms, fixed or term deposit certificates are not practising the compulsory "Tribhasha Sutra (three language policy)...government wishes to take firm steps for implementing Kannada in all official activities."
Although the State-level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), which is the forum of banks in the State issued a notice to all banks in the last week of March, asking them to set up a Kannada Cell and to take measures to teach Kannada to their non-Kannadiga employees, the issue has come to the forefront again after several pro-Kannada voices recently raised objections to the supposed imposition of Hindi and demanded Hindi signs to be removed in all Bengaluru metro stations.
The issue is simmering now, at least in the virtual world, since after the #Nammabankukannadabeku hashtag was created and popularised by Kannada Grahakara Koota, an online consumer forum whose stated aim is to bring consumer awareness amongst Kannadigas.
Several consumers, netizens and even some political parties have used the hashtag and tweeted about the issue:
Several crores of Kannadigas not getting banking services in Kannada is a non issue. Oh God! #NammaBankuKannadaBeku https://t.co/NlWx9LI3ph
— Ganesh Chetan (@ganeshchetan) July 11, 2017
ಕನ್ನಡವೇ ಬರದವರನ್ನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ಯಾಂಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನೇಮಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಆಗುವ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಣೆ ಯಾರು? @CMofKarnataka #NammaBankuKannadaBeku
— AAP Karnataka (@AAPKarnataka) July 11, 2017
A UP migrant in Mysuru can get all bank services in his language. But a Kannada literate native of Mysuru can't.Fair? #NammaBankuKannadaBeku
— Rakshith Ponnathpur (@rsponnathpur) July 11, 2017
Sincerely request Sri @arunjaitley to ensure every bank in Karnataka provides its services in Kannada predominantly. #NammaBankuKannadaBeku
— C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) July 12, 2017
#RTI response on banking services by @canarabanktweet to a #Kannada #consumer.Shows why the demand #NammaBankuKannadaBeku #BankInMyLanguage! pic.twitter.com/NMiBnyXLyZ
— KGK (@KannadaGrahaka) July 11, 2017
