Need for collective action to save Kannada stressed

Purushottama Bilimale, Chairman, Kannada Development Authority (KDA), expressed concern over the challenges faced by Kannada language and culture and called for concerted action and efforts to protect and develop the language.

“We need to save and develop Kannada, which requires joint efforts. I am holding meetings with Kannada organisations and activists at various levels to seek their views and suggestions for our course of action. Kannada organisations are working seriously to protect the Kannada language. If you find any problem in introducing Kannada as an administrative language in Bidar, please let me know and we can discuss the issue with the deputy commissioner,” he said at a consultative meeting with Kannada organisations at Channabasava Pattadevaru Rangmandir in Bidar on Sunday.

Listing out the measures to be taken, Mr. Bilimale said that 80% of the posts need to be reserved for Kannadigas in employment groups C and D and that the Sarojini Mahishi report needs to be implemented effectively.

Santosh Hanagal, general secretary, KDA, said that the suggestions received in the statewide consultation meeting would be taken into consideration. Any issues would be raised in the meetings with the government officials concerned, especially the deputy commissioners, he added.

Suresh Channashetty, district president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat in Bidar, expressed concern over the improper implementation of government orders to save the Kannada language.

“Many schools on the state borders do not have Kannada signs. The government must relax the strict rules for opening Kannada schools in the border districts,” he said.

Deputy Director of Kannada and Culture Department Sidram Sindhe, President of Kalyana Karnataka Artists’ Forum Vijayakumar Sonare, activists Shivakumar Katti, SB Kuchabal, Parvathi Sonare, Bharati Vastrad, writer M. Deshpande and others were present.