One Day Bandh In Karnataka on February 13: What will Remain Closed In The State

• Normal life in Karnataka might be disturbed in the face of a dawn to dusk bandh called for by Pro-Kannada Organizations on February 13, 2020.
  
  
• Some political experts say the February 13 bandh might turn as a low impact mission.
  
  
• Read on to know what the one-day strike in the Kannada Speaking state could impact.
  

The Pro-Kannada Organizations in the state of Karnataka have called for a day’s bandh in the state in demand of boosting up the reservation of jobs in Karnataka for the Kannadigas. Championed by Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, the February 13 bandh calls for implementing the Sarojini Mahishi report that advocates job reservations in Karnataka for Kannadigas both in the private and public sectors.

Support to the bandh

The organizations that have supported the bandh in Karnataka on February 13 are The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Lorry Owners Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

Cabs and taxis will not ply in the state

For the bandh that will extend from 6 am to 6 pm on February 13, the app-based cab operating companies like Uber and Ola have extended their support and hence they will not ply on the day. Some drivers association in the state like Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association and Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union are also supporting the Bandh.

What will be closed in the state

Due to the bandh on Thursday, educational institutions including schools and colleges in Karnataka will remain closed. Only emergency services like medical shops, ambulance service, hospitals, medical shops and milk booths will remain open. Since the hotel owners have not extended their support to the bandh, it is expected that most of the eateries in the state of Karnataka will be opened on the day. Namma Metro is expected to function as usual without any break.

About Sarojini Mahishi report

Sarojini Mahishi was a prominent leader in Janata Party. An MP for four times, she was appointed by the Ramakrishna Hegde Government to chair the panel in 1983 for making recommendations regarding the reservation of jobs in the state. In June 1984, the committee submitted an interim report and later tabled a final report in 1986 that made 56 recommendations. Out of them, 45 recommendations were accepted by the Karnataka Government.

Why the bandh in Karnataka

Some of the suggestions made in the Sarojini Mahishi report recommend that a certain percentage of jobs must be given to the Kannadigas in private and public sector and multinational firms operating in the state of Karnataka. Some recommendations made by the report urge that all the jobs in Group C and Group D categories in the central government departments and PSUs functioning in Karnataka must be given to Kannadigas while the report also advocates making 80 percent reservations for Kannadigas in Group B and Group A jobs of the abovementioned segments. Several suggestions made by the report are yet to be implemented and the February 13 bandh urges for the same.