In a recent recruitment advertisement featured in a Kannada newspaper, the Karnataka government has opened the online application process for the role of Anganwadi helper in various villages across Tumkur city. The eligibility criteria stress proficiency in Kannada and Urdu, making it clear that the positions are specifically open to female candidates.

Since Urdu is not an official language and is primarily taught in Urdu schools as an optional language, making it a requirement for recruitment in Anganwadi jobs seems baseless. This move has prompted concerns about the potential misuse of language criteria for political gain. The decision to include Urdu proficiency as a mandatory requirement seems to align with the alleged vote-bank political strategy of the Congress government in Karnataka, particularly in favor of Muslim minorities.

Anganwadi premises may have a diverse population, but the focus on Urdu proficiency seems to disproportionately favor a specific community. Given that Karnataka has a significant Hindu majority, why is there not a similar religious criterion prioritising Hindus, and whether this selective approach is an attempt to appease a particular community for political gain? The argument points out that, while linguistic diversity is valuable, the criteria should be fair and unbiased, considering the demographics of the state.

Earlier, there were a few incidents, like once in Bhatkal, where disputes erupted between two factions outside the Bhatkal Municipal Corporation in the Karwar district of Karnataka concerning the inclusion of Urdu text alongside the Kannada language. Shrikant Nail, a pro-Kannada activist, stated, “In Bhatkal, everyone is familiar with Kannada, rendering the use of Urdu on the board unnecessary. If speakers of Konkani, Marathi, and Tamil were to make similar demands for their languages, it would not have been practical. The move seemed aimed at fostering division among people of diverse linguistic backgrounds.”

Linguistic diversity in the workplace is generally encouraged, but the specific inclusion of Urdu in this recruitment drive has raised eyebrows due to its limited official status and lack of relevance to the duties associated with the Anganwadi helper position.