Trade licence only for shops providing 60% space for Kannada on nameboard

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has reinforced its commitment to promoting Kannada by deciding to renew or issue trade licences only to shops that dedicate at least 60 per cent of the space on their nameboards to the local language.

The rule, in place for several years, has seen significant compliance in Bengaluru, with the civic body now targeting 100 per cent adherence across its jurisdiction.

Following a meeting with the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) on Friday, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath briefed reporters about plans to survey shops located on roads with a minimum width of 40 feet to assess compliance with the nameboard regulation.

“There is generally not much opposition to following the rule,” he stated, emphasising the importance of preserving and promoting the local language.

Implementation cell

To further this goal, the BBMP will establish a Kannada implementation cell in each of its eight zones, as directed by the KDA. These cells aim to encourage the use of Kannada in administrative matters, ensuring that files, circulars, and other official documents prioritise the state language.

KDA President Purushottama Bilimale, along with other office-bearers, held a three-hour meeting with BBMP officials to evaluate the use of Kannada in daily administrative tasks.

The KDA, established in 1994, has been conducting similar reviews across districts in Karnataka.

Bilimale acknowledged the BBMP’s cooperation in promoting Kannada, but highlighted a shortage of translators as a significant hurdle.

“This is not an isolated issue. Similar challenges exist in other departments, including the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), which recently faced errors in Kannada question papers. We will bring this to the government’s attention,” he noted.

Training for staff

To address language gaps, the KDA has offered to train BBMP staff unfamiliar with Kannada. Bilimale also praised the BBMP’s efforts to enforce the 60% Kannada rule for nameboards, a stark improvement compared to 15 years ago when such initiatives were rare.

School infrastructure

In a related concern, educationist V P Niranjanaradhya urged the BBMP to improve infrastructure in the schools it operates.

Noting that only 23 per cent of schools in Karnataka meet mandatory amenity requirements, he called for swift action to ensure compliance and better learning environments for students.