Despite CM’s appeal, KRV begins State-wide drive to seek hiring data from IT firms

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has sought details of the total number of employees in each company and the proportion of Kannadigas among them.

Despite Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s appeal to Kannada organisations not to visit information technology and biotechnology (IT-BT) companies over allegations of discrimination against locals in recruitment, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on Monday launched a month-long State-wide campaign to seek details from IT-BT companies on employment opportunities provided to Kannadigas.

As part of the campaign, the organisation, led by its State president T. A. Narayanagowda, is visiting IT companies and handing over letters to their heads in Karnataka demanding information.

However, even before the campaign began, Mr. Shivakumar had urged Kannada organisations not to visit IT-BT companies directly, stating that the State government was looking into the matter.

“Such issues must be resolved through dialogue and within the framework of the law,” he had said.

Dinesh Kumar, a KRV member, told The Hindu that the organisation visited nearly 50 companies on the first day and handed over the letters. “We are not creating any problems. We are just handing over the letters and seeking information,” he said.

The organisation has sought details of the total number of employees in each company and the proportion of Kannadigas among them. It has also sought recruitment data for the past three years. The letter demanded the number of candidates from Karnataka hired, the criteria followed in recruitment and the measures taken to provide opportunities to qualified local candidates.

The letters also seek the companies’ responses to complaints of discrimination and denial of opportunities raised by Kannada-speaking employees and job aspirants.

Mr. Gowda said the campaign was not aimed at targeting any particular company but was intended to verify complaints of discrimination and find solutions. Companies operating in Karnataka and benefiting from its infrastructure, resources, and government policies should also respond responsibly to the employment aspirations of local people, he said.

The KRV said the information and grievances collected during the campaign would be reviewed and brought to the attention of the concerned companies and the State government for further action.