Campaign seeks restoration of Kannada in bank services

A campaign is calling out banks for completely abandoning Kannada in their service stationery.

Activists posted challans and forms on Twitter, showing how even banks founded in Karnataka were now using only Hindi and English. With more than 13,000 posts since Tuesday evening, #Nammabankukannadabeku was trending on Twitter.

For the non-Kannada speaking, the hashtag translates to 'Want Kannada in our banks'.

The online campaign is seeking forms in Kannada to allow people to bank in the language. It comes in the wake of resistance to Namma Metro's attempts to put up signage in Hindi.

Campaigners said they were afraid the Metro authorities, like the banks, would gradually erase Kannada completely.

Reports have been highlighting the plight of Kannadiga bank customers not familiar with English and Hindi, and the obstacles they face when it comes to transactions.

In September 2016, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had spoken in favour of Kannada at a banking conference: "It has been observed that banks, while preparing challans, passbooks, loan applications, account opening forms, and fixed or term deposit certificates, are not following the compulsory tribhasha sutra (three-language formula)... The government wishes to take firm steps for implementing Kannada in all official activities."

The State-level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) issued a notice to all banks in the last week of March, asking them to set up Kannada cells and teach Kannada to non-Kannadiga employees, but campaigners say nothing has moved.

Kannada Grahakara Koota, an online consumer forum, is among the organisations in the forefront of spreading consumer awareness among Kannada-speakers. The Karnataka unit of the Aam Aadmi Party supported the campaign with a tweet in Kannada.