Bangalore, Nov 1: The long-delayed World Kannada Conference proposed to be held in the border district of Belgaum will be held in January or February next year, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa announced on Monday November 1.
Inaugurating the colourful Children’s festival and gala Kannada Rajyothsava celebrations organized by the State Education Department at the Kanteera Stadium in Bangalore, the chief minister said it was necessary to strive for the emotional integration of the state just as the geographical unification.
Yeddyurappa, who released balloons and pigeons to mark the celebrations of 54th Statehood, pointed out that the government’s developmental efforts during the last two and half years had helped Karnataka to earn the second rank over the country in the implementation of the 20-point economic programme.
''The government will continue its efforts to emerge as the number one state in the country,” he said emphasizing the need for all-round progress in the education department. It was necessary to ensure that the educated youth were able to stand on their own legs and become self-reliant, he said.
The chief minister said the Global Investors’ Meet organized by the government in the month of June had resulted in the signing of as many as 383 MoUs involving a total investment of Rs 3.93 lac crore. The GIM’s success was followed up with the signing of another 342 MoUs involving an additional investment of Rs 91,519 crore.
He said the districts in northern Karnataka, which were known as Hyderabad-Karnataka and Mumbai-Karnataka, were likely to be renamed as ''Kalyana Karnataka” and ''Swabhimani Karnataka” respectively to signify the self-respect in the state. Names of noted Kannada literatteurs and personalities would be given to some of the districts and prominent places, he indicated.
Though Kannada had been accorded its rightful status as a classical language, the chief minister lamented that the state’s official language was yet to get the facilities and benefits commensurate with its status. He said the patience of the state’s people should not be tested.
Primary and secondary education minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, who presided over the function, said the government was committed to its policy of according primacy to Kannada and compulsory education in Kannada as the medium of instruction. The matter was pending before the Supreme Court.
While all languages must be respected and given due encouragement, Kannada should enjoy primacy in the state, he said urging teachers and education department officials must strive to inculcate the love of language among the students and also prevent brain drain.
Karnataka’s Planning Commission deputy chairman Ramachandra Gowda, former minister, and Public Instruction Department commissioner K R Shashidhar were among the dignitaries who participated in the function.
Over 1200 students from as many as 125 schools provided variety entertainment and cultural programmes. Students from 25 schools in the city staged a march-past.
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