Over two months after the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann exhorted the Punjabis to start a mass movement for putting all signboards on private and public buildings across the State in mother-tongue Punjabi language by February 21 or face action, the Punjab Government has issued formal orders asking one and all to write all signboards and names plates, in public as well as private establishments, in the state in Punjabi language.
Giving three-week’s time, till February 21 — the International Mother Language Day, the Government has asked the concerned to make the desired changes, failing which a fine — ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 — could be imposed as per the Punjab Official Languages Act.
As per the orders, the names of all the government offices, semi-government offices, educational institutions, boards, corporations, NGOs, shops and business establishments have to be written in Punjabi language (Gurmukhi script). That was not all! The names of roads, name plates, milestones, and signboards will also be written in Punjabi language.
After February 21, the government officials responsible for making the changes at government institutions will be fined as per the Punjab Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 2021, which warrants fine of Rs 500 for the first violation, up to Rs 2,000 and up to Rs 5,000 for the second and third violations, respectively.