The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), led by state president TA Narayana Gowda, launched a month-long statewide campaign on November 1, coinciding with Kannada Rajyotsava.
The organisation aims to push for fairer recruitment opportunities for qualified Kannadigas in private establishments operating across Karnataka.
As part of the drive, several KRV delegations have been visiting IT companies and other private establishments, submitting memorandums to managements and seeking information about their recruitment practices.
KRV teams visit multiple IT establishments
On Monday, multiple KRV teams visited companies and business establishments across Bengaluru.
A delegation led by KRV state vice-president Abbigere Vinod visited Executive Centre India Limited at Safina Tower on Ali Asker Road and submitted a memorandum.
Shivajinagar constituency president Syed Tanzeer, Pulakeshinagar unit president Mohammed Ali and other members accompanied the team.
Another delegation, headed by KRV district unit president TA Dharmaraj Gowda, visited Quality Evaluations on Magadi Road and submitted its demands.
Meanwhile, a team led by KRV state vice-president Veerabhadra visited Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) at B Narayanapura in KR Puram. KR Puram constituency president Manjunath and other office-bearers were also part of the delegation.
Earlier, KRV activists had visited Bagmane Tech Park in CV Raman Nagar, where a representative received the memorandum on behalf of the IT establishments. The organisation said the representative had responded positively to its demands.
What are Pro-Kannada activists demanding?
Through the memorandums, KRV has sought detailed information about the companies' workforce composition, including the proportion of employees from Karnataka.
The organisation has also asked companies to share recruitment figures for the past three years, hiring policies and eligibility criteria, along with details of initiatives undertaken to ensure qualified local candidates receive adequate opportunities.
Additionally, KRV has called on private establishments to address complaints of alleged discrimination against Kannadigas during recruitment.
The organisation has also demanded expanded skill-development programmes, professional training and internship opportunities to improve the employability of Karnataka's youth.
KRV argues that companies benefiting from Karnataka's infrastructure, resources and skilled workforce should also contribute to the employment aspirations of the state's local population.
Campaign continues despite CM's appeal
The campaign is proceeding despite Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's appeal to pro-Kannada organisations against directly approaching IT and biotechnology companies.
"I appeal to all organisations not to visit IT-BT companies directly or take matters into their own hands. Such issues must be resolved through dialogue and within the framework of the law. Our government remains firmly committed to protecting the rights and interests of Kannadigas," Shivakumar had said.
However, KRV teams have continued their visits, maintaining that the exercise is aimed at collecting information and addressing grievances rather than targeting individual companies.
The organisation has indicated that the information and complaints gathered during the month-long campaign will be taken up with the concerned companies and the state government.
With the campaign gaining momentum across Karnataka, the demand for greater representation of Kannadigas in the state's booming IT and private sectors has once again brought local employment policies into the spotlight.