Marathi school to set up in Karnataka borders

Karnataka: Maharashtra Government is planning to provide higher education to the students who choose Marathi in school instead of Kannada. They had formed a committee to set up a special college in Kolhapur district near Karnataka border. The committee was set up on June 30 to explore the possibility whether a sub-centre of Shivaji University or a special Marathi college be established in Chandgad or Gadhinglaj tehsil of Kolhapur district.

The move comes two days after all the departments and local authorities were directed to compulsorily use Marathi for conducting business. The initiative of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was taken by the Higher and Technical education department handled by the Shiv Sena, which has always been aggressive regarding the rights of the Marathi population in the borders.

There are disputes between the two States from five decades in the border area of Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani which is currently being debated in the Supreme Court. Maharashtra always claims the region, that majority of its population speak Marathi.

Deepak Pawar, a member of the committee said, "It has been found that the Marathi speaking population from the border area face discrimination, especially students who choose to study in the Marathi medium in Karnataka." "There are complaints that they are denied higher education courses for not choosing Kannada as their first language in school. Therefore, the Maharashtra government has decided to step in and help them," he added.

As per the idea, the college near the Karnataka border will provide higher education courses to students who have selected Marathi as their first language in school, though being the residents of Karnataka. The committee will soon hold its first meeting.

Ever since Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took over the State's reigns, he has tasked senior ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde to look after the government's efforts to expedite the case in the apex court.