Sarojini Mahishi Report (Courtesy http://www.karunadu.tk/)

February 5, 2008 in Uncategorized

Q1. How many Kannadigas are currently employed in IT industries?

Ans: As per the approximate estimates, the number of Kannadigas employed in the IT firms operating in Bangalore is less than 10 % of the total employees. This is way too less compared to Tamil population in the IT industry in Chennai and Telugu population in IT industry in Hyderabad (where they are 70-80% of total workforce). This disparity is because of the discrimination against Kannadigas during recruitment by IT companies in Bangalore.

Q2. What is this Sarojini Mahishi Report?

In 1968, National Integration Council noted the dissatisfaction among population in various states due to discrimination being perpetrated by migrant population in employment of local sons of the soil. Hence National Integration Council recommended that the majority of the jobs shall be given to local people.

Based on this Dr. Sarojini Mahishi committee was constituted in 1983, which studied this gigantic problem in detail for 3 years and made a total of 58 recommendations. It submitted its interim report on 13-6-1984 and final report on 30-12-1986.

Some of the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi report, which are relevant to IT industry, are listed below for your understanding.

Rec. 1. State government shall ensure that recommendations of national Integration council are implemented, through implementation of Dr. Sarojini Committee recommendations, as the recommendations of Dr Sarojini Mahishi committee are in concurrence with the recommendations of the National Integration Council. The state government shall also request Union government for help wherever required.

Rec. 4. It shall be mandatory for all private industries to employ only Kannadigas for all positions. Exception can only be made in rare cases for top management positions, which require very high level of technical Qualifications and that too when Kannadiga candidates are not available. Karnataka government can exert pressure on private industries, as they are supplied land, water and electricity on priority basis from government.

Rec. 21. Admission in technical and other training colleges in the state for outside state people shall be limited to max of 5%; this is essential to stop outsiders getting jobs because of this.

Note: 21(a): G. O. CI. 121SPC. 82 dated 30 October 1982 has declared many incentives and concessions for attracting investments in industry. It shall be made mandatory for such industries to give employment to only Kannadigas to get concessions from government.

Rec. 24. There shall be a state government representative in recruitment committees of private industries employing more than 100 people.

Rec. 25. State government representatives in recruitment committees shall send report to state government about the working of such committees and an authority shall be established to examine these reports. Such authority shall be given statutory status.

Rec. 28. Employers shall submit a declaration every year stating their compliance regarding providing stipulated numbers of employment to Kannadigas. Similar system is being practiced in Maharastra.

Rec. 40. Persons trained in special skills required by industries in state can be supplied from Karnataka itself by arranging for such training in industrial training centers and engineering colleges. The committee has visited industries and compiled a list technical skills required by them. Government shall make suitable arrangement for implementation of this measure.

Rec. 47. Following rules shall be for allotment of residential sites to Kannadigas on preferential basis in important towns of Karnataka:

1. Applicant shall have 15 years residence in Karnataka.

2. Residence shall be proved through school certificate, ration card, voters list and birth certificate.

3. Serving military persons and persons staying outside state for reasons of studying or employment shall only given exemption from 15 years residence requirement. No one else shall need to be given this exemption.

4. Private residential layouts shall abide by BDA rules and shall obtain approval of BDA before allotment of sites.

5. Co-operative housing societies layouts shall abide by BDA rules and shall obtain approval of BDA before allotment of sites.

Q3. Finally who is a Kannadiga?

Ans: Govt. Order. -DPAR 37 SLC 84 dated 2-2-1985 has defined the term “KANNADIGA” as follows: “Kannadiga means a person who can read, write and talk in Kannada and has working knowledge of Kannada”.