In his now-deleted post on X, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had said the Congress-led government in the state was “pro-Kannada” and was bringing the Bill to give more jobs and opportunities to Kannadigas
The Karnataka government has put the bill mandating reservation for locals in private jobs on hold after backlash. To read about the latest development
The Karnataka cabinet approved a bill mandating 100 per cent reservation to Kannadigas, or local residents, for C and D grade posts in private industries. But, chief minister Siddaramaiah, who made the announcement in a social media post, deleted it after severe criticism from industry giants. Later, however, he shared the post again on his X handle.
The chief minister said the Congress-led government in the state was “pro-Kannada” and took this decision at a cabinet meeting so as to give more jobs and opportunities to Kannadigas. Amid this backlash, however, the state government assured that it will have wider consultations and discussions on the matter.
“The cabinet meeting held on Monday approved the bill to fix 50% reservation for administrative posts and 75% for non-administrative posts for Kannadigas in private industries and other organizations of the state. It is our government’s wish that the Kannadigas should avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada and should be given an opportunity to build a comfortable life in the motherland. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of the Kannadigas,” Siddaramaiah
State IT minister Priyank Kharge said he has requested the CM to loop in industry experts and other departments on the bill’s clauses and only then implement it. “There’s no need to panic, we will have wider consultations and arrive at a common ground,” he said, adding that the state government’s aim is to provide jobs to local residents and bring investments at the same time.
BENGALURU NOT BUILT BY KANNADIGAS ALONE’: CPI(M) MP JOHN BRITTAS
Speaking about the bill, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said that it was discriminatory and not a “well-thought-out decision” by the Karnataka Cabinet.
He added: “There are thousands of Kannadigas living in Delhi who don’t know Hindi. This bill is just to create a divide.”
In one of the first industry reactions to the Bill, Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said the aim of providing jobs to local residents must not affect the state’s leading position in technology. “As a tech hub we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy. @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @PriyankKharge” she said in a post on X.
Former Infosys executive Mohandas Pai slammed the Bill and said it is “against the Constitution”. “This bill should be junked. It is discriminatory, regressive and against the constitution @Jairam_Ramesh is govt to certify who we are? This is a fascist bill as in Animal Farm, unbelievable that @INCIndia can come up with a bill like this- a govt officer will sit on recruitment committees of private sector? People have to take a language test?” he asked in a post on X.
Politicians like Jayant Chaudhary, whose RLD is part of the National Democratic Alliance, said the reservation was “regressive and bad economics”. “Karnataka State mandating up to 100% reservations in Private sector for locals is regressive & bad economics! I have spoken on this previously as well & I believe such measures by any State are violative of constitutional rights of all Indians!” he said in
PRO-KANNADA ACTIVISTS BACK BILL
Pro-Kannada activists, who have welcomed the cabinet’s decision to clear the reservation bill for locals, have slammed Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, accusing them of making sweeping statements about the perceived lack of talent in the state.
“This bill provides a cushioning effect for Kannadigas. It doesn’t mean that any Tom, Dick, or Harry on the street would be appointed for the job,” pro-Kannada activist Chethan Jeeral stated.
Jeeral also mentioned that the Karnataka government is not moving forward with the bill unilaterally but is taking suggestions and consultations from existing bodies into account.
WHAT DOES THE BILL SAY?
On the appointment of ‘Local Candidates’, the bill, a copy of which is with PTI, says, “Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty percent of local candidates in management categories and seventy percent in non-management categories.” If the candidates do not possess secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language, they must pass a Kannada proficiency test as specified by the ‘Nodal Agency’, it says.
If the qualified local candidates are not available, the establishments within three years with active collaboration of government or its agencies should take steps to train them, it says.
If the sufficient local candidates are unavailable, then an establishment may apply for relaxation from the provisions of this Act to the government.
”Such orders passed by the Government shall be final: Provided that, the relaxation provided under this section shall not be less than twenty five per cent for management category and fifty per cent for non-management categories,” the proposed bill says.
Every industry or factory or other establishment should inform the nodal agency about the compliance of the provisions of this Act in such form, within such period as may be prescribed, the copy of the bill read.
The role of the nodal agency will be to verify the reports furnished by an employer or occupier or manager of an establishment and submit a report to the government indicating the implementation of the provisions of this Act.
