Telugus in Kuwait show the way

About two lakh Telugus living in Kuwait have beaten eight crore Telugus in the State in demonstrating their love and respect for their mother tongue.

A popular shopping area in Kuwait frequented by Telugu people prominently displays name boards in Telugu in front of shops and commercial establishments. A feat yet to be accomplished in the State despite the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, making it mandatory for display of name boards in Telugu, says Official Language Commission Chairman Mandali Buddha Prasad.

Mr. Prasad, who was in Kuwait recently to participate in the Ugadi celebrations, was pleasantly surprised to see the signboards and name boards displayed in Telugu in an alien nation.

“There is no rule or Act in Kuwait to enforce use of Telugu language for the benefit of migrants, but the love of Telugu people for their language did it,” said Mr. Prasad speaking to The Hindu here on Wednesday.

Hyderabad, followed by Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati, are among the cities and towns in the State which do not give Telugu its due in public places, he says. Its time people respected their own language voluntarily by displaying name boards in Telugu prominently for the benefit of the majority of people who speak and read Telugu, he said. No one would oppose English or even Urdu name boards in Old City, but not at the cost of Telugu, he added.

The Labour Department had already served notices on shops and commercial establishments which failed to display name boards in Telugu, and Ugadi was set as the deadline.

Over 1.5 lakh establishments complied with the law and action would be initiated against 9,036 MNCs which ignored the Act, said Labour Commissioner Ramanjaneyulu. Every small shop and establishment with 10 employees should display Telugu name board as per the Act and the department would ensure total compliance by August 15, he asserted.

Official Language Commission Chairman Mandali Buddha Prasad finds shopping area in Kuwait frequented by Telugu people prominently displaying name boards that language on shops, something which is yet to be accomplished in the State.

source: http://www.thehindu.com /  The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad, April 11th, 2013

 

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