BANGALORE: The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has sought the Centre's immediate intervention in the effective implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report on providing jobs to Kannadigas in the Central public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the State.

Registering its "displeasure" against some of the Central PSUs, the KDA, in a letter, has drawn the attention of Union Minister for Industry and Commerce Kamalnath towards the PSUs' non-cooperative attitude in providing even menial jobs to Kannadigas in the State. Said to be strongly worded the letter has urged the Minister to direct the PSUs in the State to accommodate a representative of the KDA on all their appointment boards for the purpose. "The State Government and the KDA have been requesting the public sector undertakings in the State to accommodate a government representative on their appointment boards since 2000. But a majority of the central public sector undertakings have not been positive in their response under the pretext that they had not received any direction from the Centre pertaining to the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report," the letter has complained.

KDA Chairman Siddalingaiah told The Hindu that the Centre had been "depriving" Kannadigas of their "rightful" jobs and were "testing the patience of Kannadigas" in this matter.

Although Bharat Electronics Ltd. and the Aeronautical Development Agency had been fair in cooperating with the Government on the issue, the responses from the establishments such as the Hindusthan Aeronautics Ltd. (Bangalore), Bharath Earth Movers Ltd. (Kolar), and Gas Turbine Research Establishment had been "disappointing". He would visit and hold talks with such managements shortly, Prof. Siddalinagiah said.

The Sarojini Mahishi Report had recommended that 65 per cent of posts in grade A, 80 per cent in grade B and all the posts that come under the purview of group C and D should be earmarked for Kannadigas. The Government constituted many committees, including the Margaret Alva Committee (August 4, 1983) and Sarojini Mahishi Committee (January 25, 1984), for getting due priority to Kannadigas in the Central PSUs. The Sarojini Mahishi Committee submitted its report with 58 recommendations to the Government on December 30, 1986. Following that the Government constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee on March 16, 1990 to work out the modalities for the implementation of all the recommendations. It entrusted the responsibility of implementing the recommendations to seven of its 101 departments.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail