Belagavi: In the wake of the state-level protest scheduled at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on April 10, against the closing of govt schools in the name of the KPS magnet scheme, a poster was released at Ambedkar Garden in Belagavi on Sunday. All India Democratic Social Organisation (AIDSO) and Sarvajanik Shikshana Ulisi Janandolana Samiti (SSUJS) have already been protesting in villages for the past four months.A meeting of the AIDSO and SSUJS committee was held, and a plan was made for the preparation of the meeting across the district.
Ramu Hanagandi, the chairman of the committee, said, “For the last four months, there has been a struggle in villages and hamlets against the closure of our schools in the name of the KPS magnet scheme. A district convention was also organised in Jan. Despite strong public opposition, the state govt has continued the KPS magnet scheme to close schools. We condemn this stubborn attitude of the govt. To reverse this govt scheme and convey the cry of the people of the state to the govt to save the govt schools in the villages, a state-level public convention is being organised on April 10.” He said people, including farmers and workers, from villages across the district will participate in the movement in large numbers.
Mahantesh Bilur, district coordinator, AIDSO, and secretary of SSUJS, said that the govt has implemented KPS magnet scheme under the guise of providing quality education to poor children. Govt is closing more than 40,000 govt Kannada schools while boasting that they are pro-Kannada, he added.
“Many dignitaries, including writers and educationists of the country, have come out in support of saving the govt schools and condemning the anti-people move of Karnataka govt, which is unjust to the progress of Kannada,” he said.
Senior writers like Hampa Nagarajaiah, K Marulasiddappa, Prof SG Siddaramaiah, SSUJS state president, and writers Allama Prabhu Bettadur, retired vice-chancellor of Kannada University Prof A Murigappa, senior activists Raghavendra Kushtagi, senior lawyers Hemalata Mahishi, educationists Niranjan Aradhya VP, leaders of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Guruprasad Keregodu, Mavalli Shankar, Prof Sabiha Bhoomi Gowda, Badagalpur Nagendra, social activists Ugra Narasimhe Gowda, Ashok Chandragi, Ajay Kamath, VN Rajashekar, Shashidhar M, Somashekar K, Shobha S, Siddalinga Bagevadi, Ashwini KS, writers, activists and educationists will participate, he said.
Bharamu Kurli, Reshma, Gauri Unkal, Rekha Hanchinamani, Siddappa, Halappa, Kamalesh were present.
