Commence recruitment immediately, Santosh Hegde tells State govt.

The former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde has said that it is unfortunate that the State government is not considering the problem of unemployment seriously and urged it to immediately commence the recruitment process without daring to test the patience of job aspirants.

He was speaking at a convention of job aspirants organised by the Udyogakankshigala Horata Samiti (Job Seekers Agitation Committee) at Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha auditorium in Dharwad on Friday.

Lashing out at the State government for its apathy towards the unemployed youths, Mr. Hegde sought to know from the government where the money meant for filling vacant posts is being spent.

Mr. Hegde said that there are 2.84 lakh vacant posts in various government departments that have not been filled for long for want of grants.

“People should know where the money meant for filling these posts is being diverted. The Ministers and legislators do not spend much time for getting their salaries and perks hiked by 100%,” he said.

Urging the State government to immediately begin the process of recruitment, he said that any further delay will be like testing the patience of the job aspirants.

However, Mr. Hegde emphasised the need for unemployed youth to take the path of peaceful protests to highlight their demands and to warn the State government instead of taking the law into their hands.

He said that it is also important that those who are employed should do justice to the salaries they receive and serve society honestly and sincerely.

National president of Citizens For Democracy (CFD) and social activist S.R. Hiremath emphasised the need for chalking out an agitation on the lines of the freedom struggle and the farmers protest in the recent years to highlight the demand of the unemployed youth.

“You should fight based on merit and on grounds of morality to get your demands fulfilled,” he said.

Advisor to Dharwad Janajagruti Abhiyan Ramanjanappa Aldalli advised the youth against blindly following any leader to get their demands fulfilled.

“A single hero or leader will not make our lives. We have seen examples of IAS and IPS officers projecting themselves as heroes and leading agitations but finally join a political party to get various positions. It is important that the youth are aware of such leaders with vested interests. It is time to design and take forward our agitations in our own ways,” he said.

Advisor to Job Aspirants Agitation Committee G.S. Kumar spoke. Bhavanishankar Gowda, Siddalinga Bagewadi, Viresh Naregal and others of the committee were present.

Resolutions demanding filling vacant posts in a time-bound manner, ensuring transparency in recruitment and relaxation of age limit were approved during the convention.

It was resolved in the meeting that a delegation led by Mr. Hegde, Mr. Hiremath and others will meet the Chief Minister on this.

High drama

There was high drama before the convention started as the Police Commissioner initially denied permission for the job aspirants to hold it.

Organisers of the convention were given a shock on Thursday evening about the denial of permission to hold it.

Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha, which permitted the use of its auditorium for the convention, issued a letter on Thursday night mentioning the denial of permission following a direction from the police.

However, Mr. Hiremath made it clear to the police that they will go ahead with the programme as planned and if permission were not to be given, then, they will hold an agitation.

He also dared the police to arrest him. On Friday morning, however, things changed and the Police Commissioner finally gave his nod for holding the convention, after which the stage arrangements were made and the convention was organised.