Kannada to miss ‘classical’ benefits

Despite the Ministry of Culture instructing the Karnataka Government to send the proposals listing details of the plan of action on the utilisation of funds at the earliest, the government is yet to give any response,” sources said.

Under the classical tag, the state is entitled to certain benefits, including instituting two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in Kannada, setting up a centre of excellence for studies in Kannada, the creation of professional chairs on Kannada in Central Universities under the University Grants Commission and more opportunities for scholars to research the origin and history of the language.

However, to avail of these benefits, the State Government has to constitute an expert panel to prepare a proposal listing the future course of action and submit it to the Centre. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has already submitted its proposals in this regard and is set to get funds this fiscal year itself. Kannada and Telugu were given the classical tag during the same time and the Centre had informed both governments to submit the proposals simultaneously, while promising to release the funds at the earliest.

The Union Government granted classical status to Kannada and Telugu on November 1, 2008, subject to the disposal of a writ petition pending before the Madras High Court.
“Though the writ petition is still pending before the court, it should not stop the Karnataka government from preparing the ground work and approaching the Centre.
“More over, the court has not stayed the Centre’s decision on granting classical status,” sources said.

Reacting to the criticism by the Karnataka government that the Centre was not releasing funds, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said he had already informed State Government officials to submit a concrete plan of action to the Centre and had promised that he would pursue the issue.

“Without making preparatory works, the Centre cannot release funds,” he said.
Moily added that he would call a meeting of state officials in Bangalore to discuss the issue.

- Kesavappa.