Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presents awards to D. Devaraj Urs and LG Havanur Ravivarma Kumar during the first anniversary of Mysuru BCM Hostel Old Students Association in Mysuru on Friday (November 21). | Photo credit: MA Sriram
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday (November 21) said that students studying in government hostels are indebted to the society and must make efforts to pay it back as they progress in life. Those who completed their education while staying in hostels, cleared Union Public Service Commission and Karnataka Public Service Commission examinations and joined government services should become role models and work towards building a casteless society, he added.
He was speaking after presenting the D. Devaraj Ursa and LG Havanur award to Advocate Ravivarma Kumar at a program organized by the Mysuru Backward Classes and Minorities (BCM) Hostel Old Students Association on the occasion of its first anniversary and Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations held at the Convocation Hall of the Karnataka State Open University.
The Chief Minister said that educated individuals must not practice or support caste. “If educated people continue to support the caste system, what is the purpose of education?” he asked.
He stated that no religion advocates hatred and stressed that everyone should treat others as equals. According to him, education should not lead to caste division but must be scientific. India’s literacy rate has now reached 78%, compared to just 10-11% at independence, he noted.
Superstitions, he noted, must be eliminated and education must respond to social problems. Recalling social reformer Basavanna, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that 800 years ago, Basavanna spoke against superstitions to build a humane society.
The Chief Minister said that 3.88 lakh students are currently using hostels run by the state government. Mysuru city itself has around 45 hostels that accommodate about 6,500 students. The government, he added, has allocated ₹3,500 crore for BCM hostels.
Describing D Devaraj Urs as a leader who empowered the backward classes, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he launched various Bhagya programs during his first term and guarantee programs in his second term as chief minister. “Bhagya schemes are meant to support the poor, while guarantee schemes are meant to remove inequality,” he said.
He added that caste cannot be eradicated unless inequality in society is removed.
Mysuru District Minister-in-Charge HC Mahadevappa, MLAs K. Harish Gowda and D. Ravishankar, MLCs K. Shivakumar and Thimmaiah, President BCM Hostel Old Students’ Association Shivaswamy and others were present.
Published – 21 Nov 2025 20:11 IST
