Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 9: The demand to include Tulu language in the Eighth schedule of the constitution of India is a long standing one. A private bus in the city is showing its support for the cause by painting the same on the bus. This initiative of the bus owner is widely appreciated by the public.

Dilraj Alva, owner of private bus Sri Ganesh Prasad, plying on Route 27, took up this initiative in support for the inclusion of Tulu language in the Eighth schedule.

Route 27 bus plies from State bank via Attavar to Mangaladevi. Stickers are put up on both sides of the bus in which #Tulu to eight schedule #TuluofficialinKA_KL with Tulu alphabets is written.

This move by the bus owner has gone viral in social media.

Speaking to daijiworld.com Dilraj Alva, owner of the bus said, "We have total of five buses. Earlier we had painted the bus with ‘Swaccha Mangaluru’ and ‘Save Water’ to create awareness among the public. Now we have taken this step to demand inclusion of Tulu language in the Eighth schedule. Since two years people are stressing and pressurizing the government to include Tulu language in the Eighth schedule of the constitution. Through the display of stickers, we are also joining hands in demanding inclusion of Tulu language in the Eighth schedule.”

Since many years people of twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are raising their voices for the same cause. A few months ago, twitter campaign was held for the same, which attracted over one lac tweets demanding the national recognition of the language.

Former minister, Pramod Madhwaraj supported this campaign with a series of tweets. Along with politicians and sandalwood celebrities scores of people from the twin districts have poured in their support for this cause. The campaign made a conscious effort to tag prominent leaders to receive attention.