Siddaramaiah lends his ears to a hundred voices

Holding a PhD in unconventional subjects, it appears, does not fetch a job these days.

Dr Geetha Kumari approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the maiden Janaspandana programme on Friday here after she failed to get a job in the sericulture sector in the State despite having a doctorate.

Dr Kumari said the State government in its Cadre and Recruitment Rules has not recognised sericulture graduates for employment. “I have approached all possible universities. Even there, I was sent back as there are no students for sericulture,” she lamented.

 Seeing her plight, Siddaramaiah said that he would speak to the Department of Collegiate Education to get her a job. During his first official meet-the-public programme, Siddaramaiah was swamped by close to hundred citizens who sought solutions to their problems.

From transfers and employment, issues related to building law violations and land encroachments, people from various parts of the State had come to seek his intervention in finding solutions to their problems.

While the plight of an unemployed PhD holder revealed how degrees do not fetch anything these days, a desperate graduate from Dharwad, Bheemangowda
S Patil, was seen trying to persuade the Chief Minister to issue orders for recruitment of police sub-inspectors (PSIs) which has been stalled for nearly four years.

“My parents have spent a huge amount on my coaching to ensure that I fare well in the entrance examination for PSI selection. By July 28, I become ineligible as I turn 30. What do I tell my parents?” Patil asked Siddaramaiah.

 A patient Siddaramaiah assured that he will try his best, but cannot consider an adhoc decision on such matters.

“You are a BA student.  Why don’t you try for another job,” said the chief minister.

For physically challenged T N Ramesh, it was more of an immediate concern of employment as he was denied a position as a ‘guest lecturer’ under a previous quota.
With Friday being the last date, meeting the chief minister was his last resort.
Siddaramaiah immediately called up the Collegiate Education commissioner and asked her to immediately provide a job to Ramesh.