Even after getting the classical language tag in 2008, Kannada is yet to secure the benefits that come with it, as the Planning Commission has refused to allocate funds for the proposals submitted by Union Ministry for Human Resource Development (HRD).
Speaking to The Hindu, chairman of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Mukhyamantri Chandru highlighted the apathetic attitude of the Centre in this regard.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa raised the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently and said Kannada should get what was due to it. So far, he has written three letters to the Prime Minister in this regard.
Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in Kannada, a centre of excellence for studies in Kannada, and the setting up of professional chairs of Kannada language in Central universities are the benefits extended after a language secures the classical tag.
After the classical tag was bestowed in November 2008, the HRD Ministry sent a proposal to the Planning Commission seeking to set up a centre of excellence for studies in Kannada and Telugu at the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) Mysore.
The CIIL conducted a meeting, in which over 100 scholars took part, and recommended that all the schemes envisaged for the Centre for Excellence in Tamil may be adopted with suitable modifications.
Scholars also felt that Kannada should be studied in the background of all relevant disciplines such as folklore and ancient history.
They suggested several steps for promotion of Kannada.
Mr. Chandru said that Union Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily recently said that the HRD Ministry had submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission, which had promised to consider it in the 12th Five Year Plan. “The people of Karnataka are feeling let-down by the delay,” he said.
The Minister said a delegation of MPs from the State would meet the President and the Prime Minister on the issue. “We will appeal to the MPs to raise the issue in Parliament,” he said.
The apathetic attitude of the Centre was intentional, he said and added that political pressure might have made the Planning Commission to go slow on the matter. Moreover, the lack of doggedness on the part of the elected representatives from the State was also a reason for such a situation, Mr. Chandru added.
