MLC Ivan D’Souza calls for inclusion of Konkani in KCET language eligibility
Bengaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza has urged the Karnataka Education Ministry to include Konkani as an accepted mother tongue for candidates appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET). The appeal was made during a session of the Karnataka Legislative Council, where D’Souza highlighted the case of a student from Kasaragod who was denied admission due to her mother tongue being Konkani.
D’Souza shared that the student had pursued Kannada as her second language in higher secondary school (PUC) and completed her course with 80 percent marks. Despite clearing the KCET-2024 and qualifying for a BSc in Nursing, her application was rejected during the certificate verification process because her mother tongue was Konkani. The legislator emphasized that the student had also cleared the Kannada language test conducted by the Karnataka Test Authority and possessed a certificate confirming her residency in Kasaragod, a district in Kerala bordering Karnataka.
However, the verification officers disregarded her qualifications and nativity, insisting that only students whose mother tongues were Kannada, Tulu, Kodava, or Beary were eligible for seats in Karnataka's educational institutions.
D’Souza pointed out that many Christian families speak Konkani as their mother tongue, and the Kasaragod district alone has over 40,000 Konkani-speaking residents. He appealed to the Higher Education Minister to amend the KCET eligibility rules to include Konkani in the list of permissible languages for the 2024 entrance test.
This amendment, D’Souza argued, would ensure fair and inclusive opportunities for students from Konkani-speaking communities in border regions like Kasaragod, thereby fostering greater educational equity.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
