KDA chairman expresses displeasure over ineffective implementation of govt. orders and closure of Kannada medium schools

Purushottama Bilimale being felicitated during the 12th District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Raichur on Saturday.

Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairman Purushottama Bilimale has expressed displeasure over the ineffective implementation of government orders aimed at developing the Kannada language and literature.

Mr. Bilimale was also concerned about the closure of government Kannada-medium schools.

​Inaugurating a two-day 12th Raichur District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at the Pandit Siddarama Jambaladinni Rangamandira, Mr. Bilimale noted that while the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Education Minister possess the political will to promote the language and the government has passed 2,800 orders since the unification of the State, only 40% of them have been effectively implemented due to a lack of enthusiasm among officials.

​He stated that he had visited 24 districts and interacted with over 1,800 officials across various departments, including Deputy Commissioners and university authorities, only to find poor execution of pro-Kannada directives.

​Highlighting the three primary challenges facing the language – internal administrative issues, education, and employment – Mr. Bilimale expressed concern over the closure of Kannada-medium schools. He attributed the dwindling student strength partly to the Karnataka’s Total Fertility Rate dropping from 2.9 to 1.6 over the last four decades.

​On the employment front, he flagged the declining participation of Kannadigas in the labour market. From Greater Bengaluru’s construction and hospitality sectors to areca nut plantations, workers from outside the State now dominate the workforce, he said.

Mr. Bilimale stressed the need to introspect on whether Kannadigas are reluctant to take up such jobs or are being denied opportunities. Calling upon literary conferences to go beyond mere discussions and pass concrete resolutions, Mr. Bilimale urged collective efforts to make Kannada the “language of livelihood” (annada bhashe).

District in-charge Minister Ajay Singh, MLC and reception committee chairman N.S. Boseraju, MLA Shivaraj Patil, MP G. Kumar Naik, Adikavi Sri Maharshi Valmiki University Vice-Chancellor Shivanand Kelaginamani, Parishat district president Ranganna Patil Allundi, former president Veerahanuman, Karnataka State Information Commission (Kalaburagi Bench) Commissioner B. Venkatasingh, journalists Basavaraj Swamy and Aravind Kulkarni, Working Journalists’ Association district president R. Gurunath, Government Employees’ Association district president Krishna Shavantagera, Superintendent of Police Arunangshu Giri, Corporation Commissioner Jubeen Mohapatra, and others were present.