Decode Politics: Siddaramaiah govt’s stalled job quota plans for ‘locals’: What and why

Beset by several alleged scams, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka Wednesday cleared a Bill envisaging reservation of 75% of the jobs in non-management and 50% in management sector in all establishments for “local” candidates.

As the industry reacted sharply to the move, the government announced that the Bill was being withheld and the Cabinet would discuss it comprehensively at the next meeting.

Earlier, Congress ministers and leaders clarified that the legislation – Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 – was in the preliminary stages and “wider consultations” would be done before it was tabled in the Assembly.

Industries Minister M B Patil, currently on a tour abroad to generate investments for the state, issued a statement that the government would ensure that “the interests of Kannadigas are protected, alongside those of industries”.

Karnataka Information Technology and Bio Technology (IT, BT) Minister Priyank Kharge told The Indian Express that while the government was keen on ensuring more jobs for locals, it would consult the industry regarding the draft Bill. “All the policies and schemes running in the IT or BT industry have been implemented after consultation with the industry. No rule will be passed without wider consultations,” he said.

As per the Bill, 75% of jobs in non-management category and 50% in management category, excluding Board members, would be kept aside for locals in all industries, factories and other establishments in the state.

The Bill defined locals as those “born in the state of Karnataka and domiciled in the state for a period of 15 years and capable of speaking, reading and writing Kannada in a legible way”. They