Pro-Kannada activists visit Bengaluru IT firms to collect employment data
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has started a month-long campaign to assess the representation of Kannadigas in the technology sector.
Pro-Kannada activists have begun visiting technology parks and IT companies in Bengaluru to gather information regarding employment for Kannadigas, according to Moneycontrol and Deccan Herald. The visits are part of a month-long statewide campaign launched by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on November 1 to evaluate the workforce composition in IT-BT and manufacturing sectors.
The KRV state president TA Narayana Gowda said the organisation is seeking details on total workforce numbers, the proportion of local employees, and recruitment data from the last three years. The group has also requested information on hiring criteria, skill development, and internship initiatives for the youth of Karnataka.
The campaign follows social media claims that Kannada-speaking candidates face disadvantages during recruitment. One video showed a woman alleging that applicants mentioning Kannada on resumes were rejected in favour of those from other states.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged Kannada organisations to avoid targeting companies or acting outside the law. He stated that the government will investigate any complaints of discrimination and will not tolerate the deliberate exclusion of local youth.
The controversy involves the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, which the government previously put on hold following industry objections. KRV warned it would protest outside any companies that refuse to share the requested recruitment information.