Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah deletes 100% job quota post, issues clarification on state's reservation policy

Hours after removing a previous post on the social media platform "X" the previous day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained on Wednesday that the administration had approved a Bill requiring 50–75 percent employment reservation for Kannadigas in the state's private sector. A significant dispute started when Siddaramaiah claimed in a since-deleted post on "X" that the government had passed a bill requiring the private sector to hire only Kannadigas for positions in the "C" and "D" grades. The previous statement mentioning 100% reservation caused an uproar.

ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರೆ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಆಡಳಿತಾತ್ಮಕ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಶೇ.50 ಹಾಗೂ ಆಡಳಿತಾತ್ಮಕವಲ್ಲದ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಶೇ.75 ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ನಿಗದಿಪಡಿಸುವ ವಿಧೇಯಕಕ್ಕೆ ಸೋಮವಾರ ನಡೆದ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆಯು ಒಪ್ಪಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಕನ್ನಡದ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ವಂಚಿತರಾಗುವುದನ್ನು ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿ, ತಾಯ್ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ… pic.twitter.com/Rz6a0vNCBz

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 17, 2024

CM creates uproar

The chief minister emphasized in his new post that his government's top priority is to ensure the welfare of the Kannadigas. "The cabinet meeting held on Monday approved the bill to fix a 50 percent reservation for administrative posts and 75 percent for non-administrative posts for Kannadigas in private industries and other organizations of the state," the CM said.

Critics point to the new employment bill

Many business executives have criticized the idea, arguing that the government should instead concentrate on skill training and that it would negatively affect industries like IT. Santosh S Lad, the Karnataka labor minister, defended the Congress government's plan to present a new employment bill on Wednesday. According to Lad, the administration is attempting to give local skilled workers priority. Although he acknowledged that people can be outsourced and that the state does not lack talent, he claimed that the necessary skills are not readily available. 

Lad stated that there is a sufficient number of skilled workers in Karnataka, citing the state's sufficient higher education institutions as support for his assertion. The proposed bill intends to give locals preference for 50% of management positions and 75% of non-management positions.

Karnataka for Kannadas?

To be considered for an appointment under the proposed reservation bill, local candidates will have to present a certificate of secondary education that includes Kannada as a language. If they do not have one, they can try the government-mandated Kannada proficiency exam. If the enterprises are unable to hire a sufficient number of local individuals, the government has outlined specific criteria and exceptions for the relaxation of this reservation criterion. Penalties are also provided for in the bill if firms violate the regulations.