‘Kannada losing relevance even in empl sector’

Excessive consumerism has led to the destruction of Kannada culture and tradition, said Dr Gananath Yekkar, an expert on folk sports.

“A passion for literature has dipped among children and students,” he said while presiding over the taluk-level Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held here, on Friday.

“The massive industrialisation and urbanisation has made the culture lose its identity and roots.”

Yekkar urged government to implement recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi report. Kannada is losing its relevance even in employment sector, he lamented.

He emphasised the need to improve infrastructural facilities in government schools. Yekkar said that instead of introducing English in Kannada medium schools, the government should provide better facilities in existing government and aided schools.

He also criticised media for not coming forward to promote Kannada language and culture.

Opposition leader in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary said one crore students were studying in 48,000 government schools in the State. There are 2.5 lakh teachers and 1.5 lakh employees working for mid-day meal scheme.

He said despite healthy allocation in budget for education, many government schools lacked basic infrastructural facilities.

“There is need for uniform education policy which does not discriminate and supports the idea of classless education society.”

He confessed to being unsure the government’s decision to start over 1,000 government English medium schools. The question of opposing and supporting is not important at this juncture, what makes sense is the pros and cons, which will have ever lasting impact on Kannada language.

Udupi District Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Neelavara Suredra Adiga said that English can be taught from Class I instead of opening exclusive government English medium schools. Both Kannada and English should be taught simultaneously.

The government Kannada medium schools should be empowered with required amenities, he added.