Bengaluru, August 29: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced on Friday that notifications are being issued to fill 72,000 vacant government positions across various departments. Discussions are ongoing at the government level to address backlog vacancies.
Parameshwara made this statement during the inauguration of the sixth state-level ‘Aikyata Samavesha’ organized by the Karnataka State Government SC/ST Employee Coordination Committee at the Shringar Palace in Bengaluru.
He noted that backlog vacancies had been filled during the tenure of former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna due to continuous efforts. Parameshwara plans to discuss this matter with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to expedite the filling of remaining backlog vacancies.
The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that the coordination committee has requested land for its activities. If the committee identifies suitable land, he and Minister K.H. Muniyappa will assist in its allocation.
He also stated that Chief Minister Shivakumar has agreed in principle to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which will be rolled out in the coming days.
Parameshwara emphasized the need for greater representation of SC/ST employees in government employee conferences. He pointed out that there are over one lakh employees from SC/ST communities, yet their issues have not been adequately presented as demands before the Chief Minister. “Demonstrating strength alone is not enough. The organization of government SC/ST employees must be robust, and their voices should reach decision-makers,” he asserted.
He stressed that the legacy and significance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar should be understood beyond just securing jobs through reservations. “It is insufficient to say that we got jobs and salaries because of reservations. We must consider why this community remains marginalized today,” he added.
Expressing concern over incidents of caste-based discrimination, he recalled that the platform attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge later underwent purification rituals. He also mentioned that former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram faced similar situations after unveiling a statue at Banaras Hindu University.
Parameshwara highlighted that laborers in rural areas still live in huts, and society has yet to change this situation or provide them with permanent homes and addresses.
He urged, “There are approximately 1.20 lakh SC/ST government employees. Everyone should participate in such conferences. We face challenges, and we must come together with the understanding that unity is essential. Without that spirit of unity, how can we move forward?”
Leave a Comment