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FAQ on Discrimination of Kannadigas in IT industry

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. How are Qualified and skilled Kannadiga Candidates being discriminated in IT Sector?

Ans: Even though Kannadiga candidates are well qualified and possess the required IT Skills and the relevant experience, they are not provided opportunities to prove their capability because of the discrimination against them. The only reason for this is that he / she is a Kannadiga and born in Karnataka. There are many instances of this type of discrimination against Kannadigas.

Q3. How are Kannadiga Fresher candidates discriminated in Campus Recruitment?

Ans. When an IT company decides for the recruitment of Fresh graduates, they conduct Campus Interviews in the Engineering Colleges across the country.  These companies conduct Campus interviews in a few reputed colleges in Bangalore just to indicate that they are recruiting in Karnataka. But these very companies go to all the colleges of Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala & the North Indian States which are in the nook and corner of these states. Even though Karnataka has a very good number of reputed engineering colleges across the state these companies do not consider them for their Campus Recruitment process except for one or two colleges in Bangalore. Since Karnataka has a large intake of non-Kannadiga students for its engineering courses, a large number of students selected from these few colleges in Karnataka are again non Kannadigas.

For example recently a reputed IT company recruited many non-kannadiga freshers in the pretext of selecting locals from Adichunchanagiri institute of Technology, Chikmagalur.

Q4. How Kannadiga Employees are discriminated in the annual performance appraisals and are denied Promotions?

Ans. During annual appraisal process Kannadiga employees are given step motherly treatment and their performance appraisals are not done fairly and objectively and thus are denied Promotions. Other non Kannadiga employees with similar performance are promoted to higher positions with good hike. Kannadigas are denied opportunities in working on challenging assignments, denied onsite opportunities and hence have less exposure in comparison to non Kannadigas who are provided with ample opportunities to perform and grow.

Q5. Why Kannadigas are being discriminated in IT industry?

Ans. The answer to this question is simple. The key positions (senior & middle management and HR) in these IT industries are in the hands of non-kannadigas who simply favour their own state candidates, against Kannadiga candidates. For example a Tamilian Project Manager prefers a Tamil person for an open position in his team and gets internal references from his fellow Tamilian team members and colleagues. If he doesnt get a suitable Tamilian candidate internally he decides for external reference by way of IT Consultants and shortlists only Tamilian candidates. He rejects Kannadiga Candidates referred by IT consultants even if he suits the job. The same is true for a Telugu Manager, Bengali Manager or a Keralite Manager or any North Indian Manager.

The key positions in HR are also held by these non-kannadigas who show discriminatory attitude against Kannadigas. Thus kannadigas are getting unfair and unjust treatment in IT Industry.

Q6. How Kannadigas are neglected in the non-technical sector of the IT industry?

Ans. Catering, Security, Housekeeping, Transport, Internal retail stores and other service contracts are also given to non-kannadigas. Many IT companies have given catering contracts to people from Tamilnadu, Kerala and Andhra. Majority of the security personnel are from other states.

Q6A. How else are Kannadigas suffering in the IT industry?

Ans. There is tremendous Hindi imposition on the employees in the IT industry. Security, Transport and other vendor staff are instructed by the IT companies to only converse with the employees in Hindi irrespective of whether the Kannadiga employee understands Hindi or not. Speaking or responding to queries in Kannada is not an acceptable practice in these companies.

Hindi songs / music through FM91 / cassettes are played as per the company policy on company transport and requesting for Kannada songs / music on company transport is not allowed.

Cultural programs are allowed only in Hindi and any cultural program in Kannada and presenting Karnataka's rich culture & heritage is not allowed. For example celebrating Kannada Rajyothsava is not allowed in many IT companies while non-kannadigas are allowed to celebrate Onam, Pongal and Holi without any restrictions.

Q7. Why is the need for the implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report?

Ans. By this time you are all aware about how and why eligible Kannadigas are being discriminated in the IT Industry and Kannada, Kannadiga and Karnataka are dishonored in their own state. So to stop this unfair and unjust treatment in recruiting Kannadigas in IT Sector, the need for the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report arises.

Q8. What is this Sarojini Mahishi Report?

Ans. 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.

Q9.  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".

Q10. Does this clear your doubts on how Kannadigas are discriminated in their own land and the rightful demand for job preference to Kannadigas in IT sector?

Ans:  ???

Please forward this to all Kannadigas so that the injustice meted out to Kannadigas in IT comes to the notice of all including the state government.

Author Unknown

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