‘Use the revenue to fund government Kannada schools'

D. Javare Gowda, writer and the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, has said that English-medium schools should be taxed heavily and the revenue generated should be used to provide quality education in government-run Kannada schools.

Speaking at the Masti Award presentation ceremony here on Saturday, he said that this could be a way of keeping Kannada-medium schools in good shape when the “mushrooming of English schools even in small villages seems to be unstoppable.”

Emphasising the importance of providing livelihood to children who study in Kannada schools, he said that the government should reserve jobs for Kannadigas as recommended by the Dr. Sarojini Mahishi Committee report. He also said that Kannada should become in letter and spirit the administrative language of the State.

“Vidhana Soudha will shake if writers can voice their concerns unitedly,” he said. Prof. Javare Gowda regretted that the government was not consulting writers and experts on any issue, including on the controversial decision of introducing English medium classes in government schools.

‘Shameful'

He was responding to writer G.S. Siddalingaiah, one of the award winners, who lambasted Karnataka government for opening English medium classes in government schools from Class 6. Mr. Siddalingaiah said that this was “shameful behaviour” on the part of the government.

Apathy

He regretted that a hall built in memory of Jnanpith Award-winning writer Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, Masti Ranga Mandira in Basavanagudi, had been turned into a godown.

The others who received Masti Award were writers G.N. Ranganath, Sumatheendra Nadig, H.S. Venkatesh Murthy and Na. D'Souza.

Renowned lexicographer G. Venkatasubbaiah, who gave away the awards, recalled his long association with Masti.

‘Government not consulting writers and experts on any issue'

Starting English-medium classes in government schools from Class 6 criticised