Karnataka: Campaign launched to ensure Kannada option at all ATMs

BENGALURU: Karnataka State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) has launched an initiative to ensure Kannada is available as an option along with English and Hindi at all ATM kiosks across Karnataka.
B Chandrashekhar Rao, convener of SLBC, said all banks have been asked to strictly follow the Centre’s three-language policy in banking transactions, as part of which they must provide the regional language of the respective state as an option at their ATM kiosks.A meeting of bank representatives will be convened shortly to take the campaign forward.

“Apart from issuing instructions, we are also carrying out on-site inspections. Many banks like Canara Bank have achieved 100% compliance in terms of providing Kannada as an option at ATMs. Some are yet to come around. The campaign will soon see all ATMs offering the option,” said Rao.
He said the Kannada option is particularly needed in rural areas, where a majority of people are still dependent on ATM kiosks for transactions as they haven’t yet adapted to mobile banking, aren’t well-versed in English and don’t know Hindi.
According to RBI data, the state has 17,776 ATMs, of which 9,931 belong to public sector banks and 6,398 are owned by private sector ones. There are 1,108 white label ATMs which are run by non-banking private entities. As only 40% of these ATMs are found to be following the three-language policy, the state finance department recently sent a circular to SLBC to ensure Kannada adoption in all kinds of banking transactions at ATMs.
Following this, Kannada Development Authority held a meeting with SLBC on November 11, where it was decided to launch a massive drive on ATMs. “It is astonishing to note that many leading public sector banks are violating the three-language policy and remain defiant despite repeated reminders. Such banks are being handled through SLBC,” said KDA secretary Muralidhar.
KDA chairman TS Nagabharana said the authority has constituted Kannada Kayaka Pade, a team of volunteers, deployed across the state to liaise between banks and customers to ensure smooth implementation of Kannada in banking transactions.
“Kannada Kayaka Pade was activated on December 29, which marks the birth anniversary of iconic Kannada poet Kuvempu. The volunteers are organising camps in front of some banks and creating awareness about Kannada usage in banking transactions,” said Nagabharana.