State level initiative to use Tamil in public spaces - Shops etc in Chennai without Tamil language sign boards would be fined from now on!!
If you are a shop owner in Chennai, then you might not be able to have your shop sign board in languages other than Tamil hereafter!!
The Greater Chennai Corporation or GCC has announced that shops and establishments without signboards in Tamil (as mentioned under the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishment Act 1948) would be fined Rs 2000 each. So, the shop owners must follow the rules to avoid punishment.
Information is that the shop owners must follow the font ratio 5:3:2 for Tamil, English and third language etc. Truth is that this move is a part of a state level initiative to use Tamil in public spaces.
In every district across Tamil Nadu, committees have been formed and they consist of collectors, labour department officers, municipal officials, Tamil development department staff and representatives from food and trade associations.
The Labour department and GCC organised a meeting on Friday to inform traders about the new rule. The session was chaired by Mr. C.A Raman, Labour Commissioner.
According to Mr. M. Birathiviraj, deputy commissioner Revenue and Finance, the meeting was an awareness creating session for all the trade license holders and vendors etc. He added that the 3 months time duration that was requested by the traders to change the signboards was issued. He concluded that GCC would ensure full compliance with the rule.
The shops would soon be inspected by GCC authorities and they would issue show cause notice to those shops that violate the rule. It must be noted that the licensees would be provided 7 day time to respond before action was taken. The action would also include possible cancellation of their trade license under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules 2023.
Mr. M. Mahesh Kumar, deputy Mayor spoke about how over the last few years GCC has been taking measures constantly in mandating Tamil signboards drive among vendors. It must be noted that in the Tamil speaking community few might not be able to read English. He concluded that having Tamil signboards along with the English signboards would be superb.
