KDA chairman expresses displeasure over ineffective implementation of govt. orders and closure of Kannada medium schools

Kannada Development Authority Chairman Purushottama Bilimale expressed dissatisfaction with the ineffective implementation of government orders pertaining to the development of the Kannada language and literature. He was also troubled by the closure of government Kannada-medium schools. Addressing a two-day 12th Raichur District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Bilimale highlighted that despite the political will of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Education Minister, along with the passing of 2,800 government orders since state unification, only 40% have been effectively implemented due to a lack of enthusiasm among officials.

Bilimale, after visiting 24 districts and interacting with over 1,800 officials, found a scarcity of pro-Kannada directives being carried out. He emphasized three major challenges – administrative issues, education, and employment – and expressed concern over the dwindling student strength in Kannada-medium schools, partly attributed to the declining Total Fertility Rate in Karnataka from 2.9 to 1.6 over the last forty years.

He also pointed out the predominance of non-Kannadiga workers in the labour market, particularly in Greater Bengaluru, construction, hospitality, and areca nut plantations. Bilimale urged literary conferences to produce actionable resolutions and called for collective efforts to make Kannada the "language of livelihood" (annada bhashe).