Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy voiced sharp alarm Tuesday in New Delhi over Karnataka’s 2.94 lakh vacant government jobs, branding it a ticking time bomb for the Congress-led state. He cautioned against trivializing the fervent protests erupting from desperate unemployed youth.
Dharwad’s street protests by job aspirants signal a systemic breakdown in recruitment efforts, Kumaraswamy observed. The youth’s mobilization reflects years of administrative apathy, pushing them to desperate measures.
Backed the demonstrators unequivocally, he encouraged calm persistence and pledged his solidarity. In a pointed jab, he contrasted the swift appointments to elite cabinet posts with the neglect of 2.94 lakh everyday positions.
Referencing the Administrative Reforms Commission, he underscored 7 lakh jobless individuals in limbo. The government, he accused, frittered away three years on power games, bypassing structured vacancy fillings.
Unemployment isn’t a fleeting concern but an ‘ever-erupting volcano,’ demanding proactive measures like ring-fenced budget allocations for recruitments. Vacancies plague education, health, and police most acutely; Bengaluru’s 18 prime stations operate without inspectors due to politically driven reshuffles.
Governance is suffering palpably, Kumaraswamy stressed, calling for swift action. He beseeched the regime to exit the insulated heights of Vidhana Soudha’s third floor, engage with youth grievances, and avert a political reckoning.