Karnataka: MNCs To Be Asked To Display Kannadiga Employees' Data, Rules To Be Out Soon

In a bid to ensure that multinational companies in Karnataka employ a sufficient number of people from the state, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is planning to ask the firms to display the number of Kannadigas they employ on their notice boards.

In this regard, Kannada & Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has formed a committee comprising secretaries of various departments to provide their suggestions on framing the rules. The committee is headed by Tangadagi himself.

“There has been a discussion to ensure that industries put up display boards on the number of Kannadigas they have employed. We will frame rules for that. A committee has been formed and I’m its chairman. We have secretaries of many departments and they have given suggestions. We will discuss and form the rules for industries and multi-national companies,” the Minister said.

Kannada activists have welcomed the government’s move, calling it a good step towards providing more employment opportunities for Kannadigas.

“It’s a welcome move. The companies get some subsidies and it’s from the taxpayers’ money. It’s a good move to ensure private companies employ more Kannadigas and I think there’s a clause as well for the companies to employ Kannadigas,” Kannada activist Chetan Jeeral said.

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Jeeral added, “Some companies would employ few individuals from other states for some specific roles but I don’t think there’s a dearth of talent in the Karnataka state.”

The latest move by the Karnataka government follows the Siddaramaiah cabinet’s decision to form a law that directs the signboards to include 60 per cent Kannada language on the signboards of commercial establishments.

The Karnataka Assembly recently passed the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Bill, which mandates having 60 per cent of signage in Kannada.

This came after the state witnessed several protests and incidents of vandalism in Bengaluru in December where pro-Kannada outfits went on rampage damaging signboards that did not follow the 60-40 Kannada rule.