In India's tech capital, Kannada now gets "prominence" on signboards of businesses
Bengaluru: As one goes around India's tech hub, what catches the eye most these days is how the language of the land, Kannada, gets "prominence" on the signboards of businesses. A far cry indeed from the not-too-distant past when English held sway, thanks to a government directive. With the deadline for complying with 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of businesses and establishments coming to an end, a vast majority of them in the city appear to have obeyed the mandate, with many even going for stopgap arrangements, aimed at ensuring compliance.
A bill mandating 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of businesses and establishments was passed by the Karnataka Assembly in February, and the government had warned that non-compliance would lead to the cancellation of the licences of businesses.
Now, temporary boards or banners instead of boards that are rules compliant, and also clothes or stickers covering the old boards, can be seen at several places in the city, in a bid to avoid fines and other penal action.
Many traders, who have gone for this ad hoc arrangement, cite demand and supply mismatch as the reason for not installing new boards before the deadline.
They say that in the wake of rules and the deadline for compliance, board makers or artists were besieged by traders and businesses with orders. There are supply side constraints, with an inadequate number of competent board artists to meet the surge in demand, coupled with resources and logistic issues.
«There is a delay in delivery of a new
