Siddu announces free power and water for govt schools

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava that all government schools will be provided with free water and electricity immediately.

He made the comments after hoisting the flag at the 68th Kannada Rajyotsava programme organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“All government schools will be provided with free water and electricity from today,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Our government is constantly striving to make Kannadigas economically and socially powerful, increase the quality of education and increase the basic facilities of Kannada schools,” he added.

The CM also bemoaned that the previous BJP government didn’t celebrate the Karnataka Sambhrama, the 50 year anniversary of the state of Mysore being renamed Karnataka.

“The 50th anniversary of renaming Karnataka should have been celebrated by the previous BJP government. They did not celebrate. Hence we are celebrating the event,” Siddaramaiah said.

“It has been 50 years since Devaraja Urs named the state of Mysore as Karnataka. Let's make a pledge today. Let us work to pay off the debt of our motherland by taking a pledge to speak in Kannada. Everyone living in the state should create an atmosphere for Kannada and celebrate it,” he added.

Championing Kannada Siddaramaiah reiterated his desire for everyone in Karnataka to speak Kannada. “There are people who don't speak Kannada though they live here.

Our official language is Kannada. So we have to speak in Kannada. We should respect everyone and every language. But while interacting in our state, Kannada should be used in administration. Every officer should follow this without fail,” he said.

“We cannot agree with the Central Government conducting competitive examinations in Karnataka only in English and Hindi. Earlier I had insisted on conducting the entrance exam in Kannada as well. If necessary, I will write to the Centre again and demand the same,” he added.

The CM said that there was a “misconception” that only learning in English will land one a job, adding that those who obtained their education with Kannada as the medium of instruction also flourished.

“It should be understood that learning in the medium of mother tongue is the most scientific,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, MLA Rizwan Arshad, Chief Minister's Political Secretary Govindaraju and other dignitaries were present at the programme.