India

Bangalore Airport Highlights Majority Kannadiga Workforce and Plans for More Local Jobs

By HT News Desk

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said on Saturday that Kannadigas make up the majority of the workforce at Kempegowda International Airport and that its ongoing expansion will create additional jobs for people from Karnataka. The operator added that it is aware of concerns about local employment and is engaging with relevant authorities and stakeholders to address them. In a statement posted on X, BIAL wrote that as the airport grows it will generate further opportunities for Kannadigas across multiple sectors and that it remains committed to contributing to Karnataka’s progress.

The statement followed a meeting on Friday by the pro‑Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) with representatives of 14 companies operating at the airport. KRV’s state president, TA Narayana Gowda, said the discussions were cordial and that the companies had responded positively to the organisation’s concerns. According to KRV, the companies acknowledged the scope for increasing Kannadiga representation in their workforce and assured that they would step up local recruitment over the next year.

The meeting was part of KRV’s month‑long ‘Agraha Abhiyana’, launched on November 1 to push for greater employment opportunities for Kannadigas in private‑sector establishments. The issue has also drawn the attention of the state government. Chief minister DK Shivakumar has urged private companies to provide more employment opportunities to locals while cautioning pro‑Kannada organisations against intimidation and taking the law into their own hands.

The controversy has revived debate over the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, which sought to provide reservation for local candidates in private‑sector jobs but was put on hold after objections from industry representatives.