BENGALURU: Standing firm on its stand to impart primary education in the mother tongue (Kannada), the state government has decided to amend the Karnataka Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012.
The proposed amendment would strengthen the state’s case when the Supreme Court takes up its curative petition, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra.
The state Cabinet, which discussed the issue on Thursday, has decided to incorporate the words “Mother Tongue Kannada” by amending Section 19 (2) of the Rules, which guarantees compulsory primary education for children from Class 1 to 5. The state government has been forced to take this route after the apex court struck down its policy of making the mother tongue the compulsory medium of instruction in primary education.
The Supreme Court had also dismissed the state’s review petition.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already taken up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the need to bring a constitutional amendment to make respective regional languages the compulsory medium of instruction in primary education in the states concerned. Siddaramaiah has also written to the chief ministers of all the states seeking their support in this move, Jayachandra said. “Constitutional amendment is the only solution for this problem and we are preparing the ground for the battle,” he said.
Other Decisions
* Cabinet defers decision on seeking governor’s sanction for prosecution of KPSC members allegedly involved in irregularities in selection of candidates for Karnataka Administrative Services Probationary Officers for the 2011 batch. The cabinet has now sought more details from the Law Department on the issue, Jayachandra said.
* Discussion on restructuring Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike too deferred as the committee headed by former chief secretary of state B S Patil, constituted to study the implications of dividing the urban body, is yet to submit its final report.
* Cabinet to grant `166 crore to set up a Karnataka Higher Education Board in the Karnatak University campus.
HOUSES FOR POURAKARMIKAS
The state government has decided to construct houses for at least 11,000 pourakarmikas (civic workers) working in city corporations in the state. In the fi rst phase, 1,000 houses will be constructed. Each house will cost Rs 7.50 lakh and the benefi - ciaries would be required to pay 20 per cent of the total cost. Loan will also be provided, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said.