Girish Pattanashetti

Mukhyamantri Chandru for primary education in mother tongue in all States

Gadag: Kannada Development Authority Chairman Mukhyamantri Chandru has said 1.2 lakh officials and employees in Karnataka will be trained in Kannada language skills so that Kannada can be made the language of administration.

The training would be mandatory and those failing to learn Kannada to carry out day-to-day administration will face disciplinary action including denial of promotions and other benefits. Mr. Chandru said he had spoken to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in this regard and he had agreed to take requisite steps for implementation of Kannada in administration.

Mr. Mukhyamantri Chandru was speaking at the first literary session on “Kannada Bhaashe” at the 76th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, which began in Gadag on Friday. He presided over the first session.

He said that the Government was keen on implementing Kannada as the medium of instruction till fourth standard. “I will soon be leading a delegation of non-political personalities to prevail upon the Union Government on making mother tongue the medium instruction at the primary level. Let it be made applicable to all the States in the interest of preserving the regional identity and culture”, he added.

Mr. Chandru said that because of globalisation and such other developments, at least one language was becoming extinct every fortnight.

If measures were not taken to preserve Indian languages for posterity, many of the languages would die a natural death.

Mr. Chandru said he would lead a delegation to New Delhi on March 7 to urge the Union Government to release funds for the development of Kannada language.

Earlier, Satish Kulkarni, Kikkeri Narayana, Swamirao Kulkarni and G.B. Harish spoke on various issues related to Kannada language and problems in implementing it as administrative language in the State.