Karnataka Mandates Kannada Labels on All Products to Preserve Local Identity
Bengaluru: In a significant move to promote the Kannada language, the Karnataka government has made it mandatory for all industrial and consumer products manufactured in the state to display their names and usage instructions in Kannada, alongside other languages.
A government circular issued on February 15 states that this rule applies to both government and private sector manufacturers. Authorities have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the directive.
The enforcement authorities, designated under Section 9 of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, have been tasked with ensuring compliance from all manufacturers operating within Karnataka.
Highlighting the importance of language in preserving culture, tradition, and local identity, the circular emphasizes that for Kannada to flourish, it must be integrated into production, marketing, and business activities. To strengthen its presence in daily life, the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, came into effect on March 12, 2024.
As per Section 17(7) of the Act, all products manufactured and sold in Karnataka must, wherever possible, carry names and usage instructions in Kannada, in addition to other languages if required.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
