Bengaluru/Chikkamagaluru: The state govt's move to appoint anganwadi workers with mandatory knowledge of Urdu language has stirred a fresh controversy.
While the opposition termed the decision ‘minority appeasement', the govt defended its decision by referring to an order issued on December 3, 2022 by the previous BJP govt.
Recruiting anganwadi workers in Mudigere taluk, the deputy director of the women and child development department in Chikkamagaluru district issued a notification on Sept 21, mandating the knowledge of Urdu language for candidates and directed eligible candidates to apply online.
Soon, senior BJP leader and MLC CT Ravi posted on ‘X': "When did
Karnataka introduce a new policy making Urdu language mandatory for anganwadi workers? Is Kannada not enough for anganwadi workers in Karnataka? Isn't this a ploy to help only one person secure the job besides causing injustice to Kannadigas?"
The order issued during the previous BJP govt mandated that anganwadi workers posted in minority-populated areas must know the languages of the minorities who form 25% of the local population besides Kannada.
"The designated ward at Mudigere with a population of 867 people has 277 Muslims (31.9%), 74 SCs, 15 STs, Christians 28, Jains 38 and others 435. Going by the 2022 order, the Urdu-speaking Muslim population is more than 25% of the population and hence, the govt insisted on candidates knowing Urdu along with Kannada," officials from the women and child development department said.