One more incident of Local Language Issue, Canara Bank Employee asked to speak Kannada

Once again, the issue of language in public services has come into the spotlight in Karnataka. This time, a Canara Bank employee is at the centre of a controversy after a customer reportedly demanded that the staff member speak in Kannada, the local language of the state.

A video of the incident has gone viral, showing a Kannada-speaking woman arguing with a Canara Bank employee in Chikkamagaluru. The woman, visibly upset, claimed that she was not being helped properly because the staff member did not speak Kannada and instead communicated in Malayalam.

“Why is she working here if she can’t speak Kannada?” the woman is heard asking in the video.

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One more incident of Local Language Issue in Government Banks in India. Canara Bank Employee asked to speak on Kannada Language. @canarabank pic.twitter.com/uMJrTQlSjk

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She further accused the employee of deducting money from her account without prior notice, and when she tried to ask about it, she said the staff member responded rudely and avoided giving a proper answer.

In the video, the customer can be seen arguing with the staff while the bank manager and another official converse in Malayalam. Another employee tried to mediate, but the situation remained tense. The conversation caught on camera quickly spread on social media, drawing thousands of reactions.

People online are divided. Some supported the customer, saying that every citizen has the right to be served in their local language, especially in a government bank. Others, however, felt that the woman was unnecessarily aggressive and may have recorded the video to stir up controversy.

“She’s already getting help in Kannada. Then why the drama?” one user commented.

“Public sector banks are for all Indians, and customers deserve respect and service in their own language,” said another.

The Reality of All India Service Jobs

This incident raises an important question:
Can we expect every public servant or bank employee to speak the local language wherever they are posted?

Banks like Canara Bank, State Bank of India, and others are part of the All India Services. Employees are often posted in states other than their home states. While it’s helpful (and ideal) for staff to know the local language, it’s not always practical or immediately possible, especially when staff are transferred every few years across the country.

However, communication gaps do matter, especially when customers are struggling to understand banking procedures or dispute transactions. In such cases, banks usually try to ensure that at least some staff members speak the local language. Instead of creating chaos at branches, customers should speak to the higher authorities who monitor and control branches.