Protests are going on in Bangladesh demanding quota reforms in government jobs. In this protest there were also casualties in the clash. Meanwhile, the extreme debate on the quota issue has started in India. Because, the Karnataka government of the country has given importance to regional language politics with quota.
The Siddaramaiah government has decided to reserve ‘100 percent quota’ for Kannada speakers in private jobs in the southern Indian state, local media reported. Karnataka cabinet has already given clearance to the new bill.
On Thursday (July 18), the Bill may be presented in the Legislative Assembly. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also posted on the X handle on Wednesday (17 July). However, the post was later deleted.
It is reported that Karnataka’s new quota policy is making recruitment of Kannada speakers mandatory for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts in private organizations. That means 100 percent quota for locals.
According to the new bill, any organization has to appoint at least 50 percent ‘local candidates’ in the ‘management’ category. And there will be at least 70 percent quota for ‘local candidates’ in the ‘Non-Management’ category.
In the ‘Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industry, Factories or Other Establishments Bill’, it is also said that job-seekers in private organizations must study Kannada language at least up to class 10. Otherwise he will have to take the language test.
Language politics is not a new issue in the southern states of India. However, keeping 80 to 100 percent quota for local people in private jobs is an unprecedented event. In X Handle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, claimed that his government is the government of Kannada speakers. They also have the responsibility to see good and bad.
However, the proposed bill states that if sufficient number of qualified local candidates are not available, the organizations can apply to the government to relax the quota.
Labor Minister Santosh S Lad clarified the position of the Karnataka government to news agency ANI.
He said, 50 percent quota has been proposed for management level, 70 percent for other posts. If local workers are not available, workers from other states can be recruited. The main aim of the state government is to provide employment to as many locals as possible.
Sources: Indian Express, NDTV, India Today
