Karnataka Gives 'Tulu' Official Status, Will Rename Dakshina Kannada

The Karnataka government on Friday announced "Tulu" as the state's second additional administrative language alongside Kannada, began the process of renaming Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru district, and approved development projects worth Rs 32,611 crore for the coastal region.The Cabinet took these decisions at a special historic meeting held in Mangaluru.Addressing the media with Cabinet colleagues, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Cabinet had unanimously decided to recognise Tulu as an additional administrative language in Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru) and Udupi districts.He noted that the decision followed a long-standing demand from Tulu-speaking people, organisations, and public representatives for official recognition of the language."Tulu is spoken prominently in the coastal districts. We will not discuss why the previous government did not take this decision.