K'taka: High fines for no Kannada ad boards

Bangalore, Dec 11: Government of Karnataka has decided to increase fine amount by twenty times on those who do not use Kannada in boards. The existing fine is Rs 250. The government has also has insisted that mobile phone companies and petrol bunks should change their name boards to Kannada in all their hoardings.

In an attempt to recharge Kannada batteries the Chairman of Kannada Development Authority ( KDA) Mr. Siddalingaiah has proposed several measures to make the official language of the State alive and kicking.

Apart from a stringent warning about displaying boards in Kannada, KDA has also taken measures to incorporate simple words used in day-to-day conversations in the dictionary of jargons used by the government departments being prepared by KDA. The KDA is of the view that using complex words for the sake of Kannada is of no use.

Better late than never KDA has felt the need of a reference material for the effective implementation of Kannada in administration. KDA has taken up the responsibility of preparing the dictionary after consulting officials and experts.