The State-level convention of children’s literature being organised by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat’s Vijayapura district unit here has decided to pass a resolution to urge the government to introduce ‘ Navu Geleyaru Navu Yeleyaru’ as the official children’s poem in the State.
Written by noted children’s writer, the late, Shan. Gu. Biradar, this poem remains one of the popular children’s poems.
“On the lines of a farmer’s song, the government should announce this poem as children’s song,” said Pundalik Halambi, president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, while addressing the convention.
Asserting that the Kannada Sahitya Parishat does not support any idea of bifurcation of Karnataka, Mr. Halambi, however, noted that he had advised the government to ensure equal development of all districts.
He felt that the best way to suppress the demand for Statehood for north Karnataka region was to give socio-economic justice to this region.
Putting his weight behind the Congress government on the Anna Bhagya scheme, Mr. Halambi took on the writers who have criticised the flagship scheme meant for giving free ration to poor.
He said it was unfortunate that the writers who have experienced poverty were now talking against schemes meant for poor. Writer S.L. Bhyrappa had criticised the Anna Bhagya scheme, stating that it makes poor people lazy.
“The parishat, which also has the moral responsibility to support the cause of the poor, besides fighting for Kannada, wholeheartedly supports any scheme meant of poor and needy people,” he said. Mr. Halambi however urged the government to maintain transparency in scheme to prevent its misuse.
Stating that it was the duty of State governments to preserve and protect their State languages, Mr. Halambi demanded the government to mandate Kannada in primary school between classes one and five. “The government must take our demand seriously, else, the Parishat would not hesitate to launch a Gokak-model movement in the State for protecting Kannada for present and future generation,” he said.
