States » SouthPosted at: Nov 5 2026 3:17PM


CM Shivakumar seeks majority IT jobs for Kannadigas, rules out moral policing

Bengaluru, Nov 5 (UNI) Karnataka's contentious debate over employment opportunities for locals in the private sector has resurfaced, with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar asserting that Kannadigas must constitute the majority of the workforce in information technology companies while assuring the industry protection from interference and moral policing.
His remarks have brought the focus back on the Congress government's unfulfilled promise of job reservations for locals, the stalled legislation on private-sector employment, and an intensified campaign by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) seeking greater representation for Kannadigas in Bengaluru's technology industry.
Addressing the 'Namma Shale Namma Javabdari' Individual CSR programme at Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday, Shivakumar said the government would not interfere with companies' decisions on skill-based recruitment but expected them to provide employment opportunities to the state's local talent in substantial numbers.
"We will ensure that no one misuses their office and that there is no moral policing. The government will protect the industry, but companies must take responsibility for ensuring that Kannadigas are employed in large numbers. We will not interfere in matters of skill. However, companies must ensure that Kannadigas form the majority of their workforce because we have a large pool of human resources in the state. We will not allow anyone to misuse their organisation or the Kannada cause," he said.
The statement assumes significance amid the KRV's campaign to collect employment data from IT companies in Bengaluru to establish the extent of local representation. The organisation has approached several technology firms, including Google, seeking details of their workforce and plans to compile the information for submission to the state government.
KRV president T A Narayana Gowda has demanded legislation to make the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee on employment opportunities for Kannadigas legally enforceable. The organisation has claimed that Kannadigas account for only 20 to 23 per cent of Bengaluru's IT workforce and that voluntary initiatives by companies have failed to ensure adequate local representation.
The renewed campaign has also revived questions over the Karnataka Cabinet's 2024 decision to approve a Bill proposing 50 per cent reservation for locals in management positions and 70 to 75 per cent in non-management positions in private industries. The proposal also envisaged 100 per cent reservation in Group C and Group D jobs.
The government subsequently put the Bill on hold following objections from industry representatives, triggering a debate over the balance between local employment aspirations, constitutional considerations and the need to maintain Karnataka's attractiveness as a global investment destination.
Shivakumar sought to address concerns over migration, pointing out that Bengaluru's economic and technological growth had been built on its ability to attract talent from across the country and abroad.
"There are two lakh foreign passport holders in Bengaluru and nearly 45 lakh people from outside Karnataka living in the city. This is a reality, and we cannot ask anyone to leave. Bengaluru is a global city, and people consider it a safe place. It is also a talent hub," he said.
He said Bengaluru had around 1.3 million IT professionals and 2.6 million people employed across different sectors, describing the workforce as Karnataka's major strength.
Linking employment and skill development with the state's economic ambitions, Shivakumar said Karnataka was targeting a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2032, but achieving the goal would require more than capital investment.
"Capital alone cannot build that future. A skilled human resource base is essential to achieving this goal," he said.
The debate has increasingly shifted beyond reservation to questions of skill development, access to technology-sector employment, recruitment practices and the representation of local graduates in senior positions.
While industry representatives have expressed concerns over mandatory quotas and the availability of specialised talent, advocates of local employment argue that Karnataka's educational institutions produce a substantial pool of engineers and skilled professionals who should receive a fair share of opportunities in the state's technology ecosystem.
The challenge before the government is to reconcile these competing demands without undermining Bengaluru's position as an international technology and investment hub.
With the KRV pressing for enforceable employment safeguards and the government reiterating its expectation of greater local hiring, the question of how Karnataka will translate its assurances into a concrete policy framework is likely to remain a major political and economic issue.
UNI BDN
Tags: #CM Shivakumar seeks majority IT jobs for Kannadigas# rules out moral policing
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