Belagavi
The Ghadi Nadu Kannada Sangh has protested against the Maharashtra government’s decision to conduct the TET exam in Marathi instead of Kannada for Kannada subjects. Activists from the border Kannada organization in Sankha and Jatta taluks of Maharashtra staged a protest, criticizing the Maharashtra government’s perceived anti-Kannada stance. They expressed concern over the recruitment of retired Marathi teachers in government Kannada schools along the border and the requirement for Kannada speakers to pass the TET exam in Marathi, which they find challenging.
They highlighted that out of approximately 500 students taking the exam, only 5 to 10 manage to pass, contributing indirectly to the shortage of Kannada medium teachers. This situation, they argue, leads to Marathi-speaking teachers being employed to teach Kannada subjects, which they view as unjust to Kannadigas. They accused the Maharashtra government of neglecting Kannada interests by conducting the exams in Marathi. Kannadigas in areas like Jatta, Akkalakota, and Solapur have emphasized the importance of promoting Kannada language in their regions. They have also questioned why the government is not showing sufficient enthusiasm for the development of border villages where Kannadigas form the majority. Jatta Congress MLA Vikrama Sawant has voiced support for the Kannadigas in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Sawant also opposes the appointment of retired Marathi teachers in border Kannada government schools and urges the immediate appointment of Kannada teachers. MLA Sawant has openly criticized the government’s policy and detailed the challenges faced by border Kannadigas during the discussion. He mentioned sending a letter to the Education Minister to address these issues.
