Former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde at a job seeker convention in Dharwad on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said it was unfortunate that the state government was not taking the problem of unemployment seriously and urged it to start the recruitment process immediately without daring to test the patience of the job seekers.
He was addressing a job seekers convention organized by the Udyogakankshigala Horata Samiti (Job Seekers Agitation Committee) at the Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha Auditorium in Dharwad on Friday.
Hitting out at the state government for its apathy towards the unemployed youth, Mr. Hegde sought to know from the government where the money meant for filling vacancies was being spent.
Mr. Hegde said there are 2.84 lakh vacant posts in various government departments which have not been filled for a long time due to lack of grants.
“People should know where the money to fill these posts is going. Ministers and legislators don’t spend a lot of time increasing their salaries and benefits by 100 percent,” he said.
Urging the state government to start the recruitment process immediately, he said any further delay would be like testing the patience of the job seekers.
Mr. Hegde, however, stressed the need for the unemployed youth to take the path of peaceful protests to highlight their demands and warn the state government instead of taking the law into their hands.
He said it is also important that those who are employed live up to the salaries they receive and serve the society honestly and sincerely.
Citizens for Democracy (CFD) national president and social activist SR Hiremath emphasized the need to highlight agitation on the lines of freedom struggle and farmers’ protest in recent years to highlight the demand of unemployed youth.
“You should fight on the basis of merit and on the basis of morality to fulfill your demands,” he said.
Dharwad Janajagruti Abhiyan Adviser Ramanjanappa Aldalli advised the youth not to blindly follow any leader to fulfill their demands.
“A single hero or leader will not make our life. We have seen examples of IAS and IPS officers who project themselves as heroes and lead agitations but end up joining a political party to get various positions. It is important that the youth are aware of such leaders with vested interests. It is time to design and advance our agitations in our own way,” he said.
Adviser to the Job Seeker Agitation Committee GS Kumar spoke. Bhavanishankar Gowda, Siddalinga Bagewadi, Viresh Naregal and other committee members were present.
During the congress, resolutions were approved demanding the filling of vacancies within a time limit, ensuring transparency of recruitment and relaxing the age limit.
It was resolved in the meeting that a delegation led by Mr. Hegde, Mr. Hiremath and others would meet the Chief Minister for this.
High drama
There was a lot of drama before the convention started as the police commissioner initially denied the job seekers permission to hold it.
The organizers of the convention were shocked on Thursday evening by the refusal of permission to hold it.
The Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha, which had permitted the use of its auditorium for the convention, issued a letter on Thursday evening citing the denial of permission on the instructions of the police.
However, Mr. Hiremath made it clear to the police that they would go ahead with the program as planned and would stage an agitation if permission was not granted.
He also dared to arrest the police. However, things changed on Friday morning and the Commissioner of Police finally gave his nod to organize the convention, after which the stage was set and the convention was organised.
Published – 17 Oct 2025 22:24 IST
