Pic: Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil inaugurated an awareness event on Kannada language and culture in Belagavi on Saturday Belagavi: Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil inaugurated the programme ‘Kannada Awareness and Cultural Celebration in the Border Region’ organised at the Shivakumar Sambaragimath Sabha Bhavan of Balekundri Technical College in Belagavi on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the govt has sanctioned Kannada schools in 10 places where there is a need, by Nov 1. The govt is ready to protect the language and culture at the state’s border as per the demand of Kannada outfits.Speaking at the programme jointly organised by the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha Dharwad, Karnataka Border Area Development Authority, and Naganur Rudrakshi Math, minister Patil said that more awareness needs to be created about Kannada in the border region of the state. Kannada medium schools need to spring up where there is demand. Therefore, a meeting was held in Bengaluru just 10 days ago with the leaders of Kannada organisations. The govt decided to start 10 Kannada language schools in Belagavi district.The Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha has been assigned to submit a report on the conditions of the border region, language, and people once every six months, he said.“We do not have a Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute now. It is not right to create a dispute by using this case for political gain. Everyone should live in harmony. Awareness programmes should be held to save the culture of our state and country,” he said.Siddharam Swamiji of Tontadarya mutt, Gadag, said that there are very few people in the border areas who celebrate Black Day in the name of MES. Meanwhile, there is also a lot of cultural exchange between Kannada and Marathi languages. It is a matter of pride that linguistic harmony is one of the specialities of the border region. The state govt needs to work to save the Kannada schools in the border areas. It is necessary to encourage the opening of Kannada schools to prevent the students getting attracted to the English language, he said.Jagadish Shettar, former chief minister and MP, said that it is commendable that the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha has been working to create awareness about Kannada and preserve and develop it from the beginning. Both Kannada and Marathi are the languages of our country. Kannadigas and Marathi are living in unity in Belagavi. However, for political gains, some people are sowing the seeds of hatred between the speakers of both languages, he said.A 30-day session should be held in Belagavi every year on the model of Nagpur in Maharashtra. The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha should become more active. This will help in the development of this area, he said.MLA Asif Sait, author Sarjoo Katkar, Somanna Bevinmarad, and KH Chennur were present.
