Siddaramaiah States That Inequality Will Persist as Long as Caste and Class Structures Remain

Bengaluru, Jan 3 (NationPress) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked on Friday that inequality will continue to exist as long as caste and class structures remain.

Speaking to Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officers during the launch of a calendar and diary by the Karnataka Administrative Service Officers' Association in the Vidhana Soudha conference hall, the Chief Minister encouraged the officers to show their dedication to the marginalized, who struggle to secure even two meals a day.

In his address, he highlighted the contributions of influential figures such as Buddha, Basava, and Mahatma Gandhi, stating: "These esteemed leaders dedicated themselves to the cause of social equality and the elimination of discrimination. However, inequality lingers because equal opportunities have not been made available to everyone. This is why the privileged segments of society continue to hold sway."

The Chief Minister condemned the practice of treating individuals unequally, asserting, "It reflects our mental servitude when we prioritize those in suits and boots while overlooking the poor in worn-out clothing. We must abandon this mindset and guarantee that everyone in society has equal opportunities."

He continued, "We owe a debt to society for the education and opportunities we've been granted, and it is our duty to repay that debt."

"You must explore the speeches delivered by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly. Economic and social inequalities exist due to historical factors, and it was Ambedkar's vision to eradicate them. We must leverage the opportunities we've received to fulfill our responsibilities in realizing this vision," he emphasized.

Reflecting on his time in office, Siddaramaiah stated: "I have held the position of Chief Minister twice. In my first term, we launched numerous welfare initiatives, and currently, we are implementing guarantees.”

He acknowledged that the late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh transformed constitutional directive principles into citizens' rights by introducing rights to food, education, and information. All these efforts are aimed at realizing Ambedkar's vision. Similarly, our guarantees are designed to reach every household directly, without intermediaries," he underscored.

In response to the requests from the KAS Officers' Association, the Chief Minister pledged to make earnest efforts to resolve their legitimate concerns. "We are open to increasing the number of KAS officers, but mere numbers are not sufficient. What is most crucial is the quality of your service and commitment to duty," he stressed.

He also announced that the KAS seniority list has been completed and will be published within the next ten days. "The request for promotions will also be evaluated," he assured the officers.

The event saw attendance from the Chief Minister's Political Secretary Govindaraju, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, KAS Officers' Association President Shivaswamy, and Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Satyavati.