Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070158620200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

For cultural identification and understanding

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao and Sharath S. Srivatsa

New ventures: Chief Executive Officer of the Bengaluru International Airport Limited Albert Brunner (left) at the inauguration of a Kannada language class for employees, in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: Just as pro-Kannada activists are seeking greater employment opportunities for Kannadigas in the new Bengaluru International Airport, several BIAL employees have enrolled for Kannada language classes conducted by the Department of Kannada and Culture.

As many as one-fifth of about 500 BIAL employees have enrolled voluntarily for Kannada classes, which was launched by Chief Executive Officer Albert Brunner recently. The classes for the employees will be held thrice a week for three months. The employees will be taught to read, write and speak Kannada, and courses will be held subsequently for new recruits and employees who wish to join later, a release added.

Government sources said the Department conducts a three-month free course in Kannada for the benefit of non-Kannadigas. It conducts three two-hour classes every week. The course is confined to script teaching.

While the BIAL has taken interest in seeking help from the Kannada and Culture Department, sources in the Government told The Hindu that a large number of multinational companies and corporate bodies operating in Karnataka had not shown any interest in the Kannada classes conducted by the department. On the other hand, the Kannada Prasara Parishat, a private body, conducts crash courses in Kannada which are convenient to learners.

The learners or their employers generally provide transport and extend some incentives to the course teachers towards goodwill, in addition to the prescribed course fee.