Cabinet to approve Baragur report on cultural policy, says CM Siddaramaiah

Raichur: Revealing that a Cabinet sub-committee had accepted most recommendations of the Baragur Ramachandrappa Committee report on a “cultural policy” for the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced here on Friday that it would soon be approved by the Cabinet as well.

Inaugurating the 82nd Akhila Bahrath Kannada Sahitya Sammela, Mr Siddaramaiah complimented Mr Baragur on submitting a comprehensive report on the the state’s culture. “So far the state has had no policy on culture. The Baragur committee constituted in 2013, submitted its report in 2014. It was subsequently referred to the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Mr H K Patil, which has accepted it,” he added.

The two part report had made 44 recommendations, including decentralisation of the Department of Kannada and Culture, restricting “moral policing,” and setting up three academies and a tribal university.

The committee had also asked the government not to ban literary works unilaterally and suggested formation of search committees to select chairpersons of various academies and authorities.

Reiterating his commitment to the development of Kannada, Mr Siddaramaiah regretted that the state government had not been able to make it the medium of instruction in primary schools due to the orders of the Supreme Court. “If this order is implemented it will sound the death- knell not only for Kannada, but all regional languages. The Centre must intervene to prevent this and if need be, the Constitution must be amended. I have written to all Chief Ministers drawing their attention to the issue,” he said.

Assuring that no Kannada school would be closed for want of an adequate number of children, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Tanvir Sait called for a campaign by Kannada enthusiasts to persuade parents to send their children to these schools as their students were dwindling in number.