Karnataka Job Reservation Bill. My Take!

What is the Controversy?

The newly elected Congress government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared there would be 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in all Group C and Group D jobs in private companies.

"It is our government's wish that Kannadigas should be given an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in the motherland and avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas," - CM Siddaramaiah

Why are few Kannadigas celebrating?

The respect for the land of Bengaluru and the language of Kannada is being diluted by the huge influx of non-Bengalurians settling in Bengaluru. These changes had recently triggered a pro-Kannada movement in the state - where we saw instances of boards of shops and establishments mandating Kannada. Congress tried to win the hearts of locals by capitalising on this wave with this bill. Localites felt empowered looking at this bill at first sight.

What is the Problem?

It is a matter of simple economics. Corporations work to generate higher revenues and require skilled human resources. If a reservation is mandated, hiring will not solely be based on merit. Corporations will look to move elsewhere where they have the freedom to hire talent without jeopardising their revenue stream. It will be a simple case of a shift in the supply curve. If Kannadigas want all jobs, there will be NO jobs left in the state, NO new investments coming in, and all the progress will be reversed.

“The bill’s provisions threaten to reverse this progress (made by the state in IT and start-ups), drive away companies and stifle startups, especially when more global firms are looking to invest in the state - NASSCOM

What is causing an even Bigger Problem?

There is a lack of clarity over the contents of the bill. The bill hasn't been published in the public domain. There has been no critiquing of the bill, as it has not even been shared with subject matter experts. CM Siddaramaiah deleted his Twitter post on Tuesday amid the controversy. IT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the Labour Department passed the bill without consulting his department and that it would not apply to IT corporations. This lack of information has caused a bigger confusion.

What are Group-C and Group-D jobs?

According to Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Group C' posts perform supervisory as well as operative tasks and render clerical assistances in ministries and field organisations. Group D' posts are meant for carrying out routine duties. Most of the private corporations reacting to this already have mostly localites in these posts. The scare is due to the fact that these regulations may be interpreted to higher positions also

The Reaction

Dear NASSCOM members, We understand your disappointment. We welcome you to expand or relocate your businesses to our IT, IT services, AI and data center cluster at Vizag. We will offer you best-in-class facilities, uninterrupted power, infrastructure and the most suitable skilled talent for your IT enterprise with no restrictions from the Government. Andhra Pradesh is ready to welcome you. Please get in touch! - Lokesh Nara

Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are seeking investments from companies making large promises amid this controversy. In a bid to do damage control, the % figures were changed by the Karnataka Government to 70% and 50%. The government took a slight U-turn in their statement to mitigate the situation -

"If such skills are not available (in Kannadigas) then the jobs can be outsourced. The government is trying to bring in a law to give preference to locals... if skilled labour is available here" - Labour Minister Santosh Lad

CM Siddaramaiah has said that the bill has now been put on hold and will be further reviewed. He insisted there is no dearth of talent in the state. Bengaluru has been growing at an exponential phase and is deemed as the "Silicon Valley of India". Factors like these will tend to drive away investment to other locations. Many companies have already started shifting because of issues like water and traffic.

Conclusion

The culture of the land needs to be respected. While a small reservation for localities will boost the economy and is a step towards the right direction, such outrageous numbers will just drown the city.

Political parties are putting appeasement first without thinking about the consequences in a bid to cement their seats in parliament. There is no thought process, impact analysis or rationale in these decisions. In simple words, citizens should not fall for marketing gimmicks like these. This has initiated a nationwide spark where other elected members are demanding reservations based on culture, language, locality, etc. In the long run, this will just land us back where we started.

To all my non-Kannadiga friends reading this, you will visit Bengaluru; you may work in Bengaluru someday. The people here are very sweet and accommodating. A normal Bengalurian knows at least 4 languages and follows "Athithi Devo Bhava" Culture. Put in your efforts and learn the culture of the land :)

~ A Proud Kannadiga.

The contents of this post are purely my opinion, and I have tried my best to be as rational and unbiased as possible. This does not show my inclination to any political party. You are welcome to share your point of view and are entitled to your own opinion.

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