Kannadigas in other states crave reservation in education and jobs

Kannadigas living in the neighbouring states continue to live a pathetic life despite repeated assurances from the concerned. Likewise, the successive state governments have continued to offer a deaf ear to their legitimate demands ever since the formation of states on a linguistic basis in 1956. This year is being celebrated as the Golden Jubilee year of renaming the state from Mysuru to Karnataka. But the problems, woes and demands look like never-ending perennial wounds for a lifetime and generations together.

Adverse plight all over: The perplexed situation is by and large common to all those people with Kannada as their mother tongue living in Jath, Akkalkot, South Solapur of Maharashtra, Manjeshwara and Kasargod in Kerala, Mahabubnagar in Telangana and Rayadurga in Andhra Pradesh, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Talawadi, Niligiri, in Tamil Nadu and almost all towns and villages of Goa. These people have been living in these regions for generations and contributing in their own way to the development of the states. But their own genuine grievances continue to remain unaddressed.

Support from unexpected quarters: Vikramsinh Balaso Sawant, Jath MLA fondly called Vikram Dada by his followers and admirers happens to be a great source of strength and support among the 48-plus villages inhabited mostly by Kannada-speaking populace in Jath Taluka. Anil Potdar, a native of Umadi village in Jath Taluka and an enthusiastic youth always at the forefront on issues relating to the overall welfare of Kannada-speaking people of border areas in Maharashtra speaks very highly of Vikram Dada. He asserts-"Although Vikram Dada cannot read or write Kannada, he is conversant in the language. He is always in support of the demands of Kannadigas settled in his constituency".

Series of memorandums: The number of memorandums on the plight of problems relating to Kannadigas, submitted by Vikram Dada make a big list. He has also been doing so for a long, yet it makes no sense in reality. Not just writing letters and memorandums, he also keeps making it a point every now and then to visit Bengaluru to meet the chief minister and others to highlight the conditions being faced by the border Kannadigas.

Reservation in education and jobs: Vikram Dada has been sending repeated reminders seeking reservations to border Kannadigas in education and employment in Karnataka. In a memorandum to the state chief secretary, he has been vociferous in demanding a five per cent reservation in higher education and government jobs for all those studying in Kannada medium from 1st to 10th standard.

Implementation of the scheme: In the memorandum, he has also reminded the proposed scheme of the state Border Areas Development Authority to provide financial assistance to those studying in Kannada medium. He has recommended the implementation of the scheme only for those studying in Government schools. The Authority has also envisaged a scheme providing Rs 5,000/- as a deposit to each student studying in the first standard in the neighbouring states. But there has been no provision for the same in the state budget. He has pressed for the allocation of monetary assistance in the budget.

Bicycles for high school students: High school students in Karnataka are being provided with free bicycles in the state but the same facility is being deprived to the Government school Kannada medium students in the neighbouring states. Vikram Dada has demanded an extension of the scheme facility to children studying in Kannada medium government high schools of the neighbouring states.

Appointment of Teachers: He has also demanded the appointment of Teachers in Government Kannada schools of neighbouring states. At the same time, he has also urged the Government of Karnataka to follow up with the Maharashtra authorities to ensure the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in the Kannada language.

Free accommodation to students: In the memorandum, he has pleaded for free accommodation for students studying in different levels like Pre-Matric, Matric, Pre University, Degree and Post Graduate courses to enable them to continue their studies unhindered.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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