Education key to ending inequality, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 25 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stressed on Friday stressed that education for all is essential to eliminate inequality and build a fair society.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new indoor sports complex and the launch of first-year B.E. classes at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Technical Institute, he urged intellectuals to embrace humanity and avoid hatred.
Siddaramaiah highlighted that oppressed communities were historically denied education, but Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's efforts made education accessible to them. He called Ambedkar one of India's greatest thinkers and emphasised the importance of teaching the preamble of the Constitution in schools and colleges to raise awareness about citizens' rights.
Siddaramaiah said the caste system creates inequality and social divisions. He stressed that achieving true economic and social equality for marginalized communities, backward classes, and minorities is key to overcoming caste barriers. He invoked the vision of Buddha, Basava, and Mahatma Gandhi, who all dreamt of a society free from discrimination.
Siddaramaiah urged intellectuals to foster humanity and not hatred. He warned against attempts to alter the Constitution, saying such efforts pose a threat to the nation's unity.
The CM noted that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Technical University, founded by Jayaprakash Narayan in 1980, follows Ambedkar's principles of education, organization, and struggle. He emphasized that education should prepare students for employment, noting that only 15 per cent of engineering graduates currently secure jobs. He said the government is focusing on skill development programs tailored to industry needs to tackle unemployment and improve job opportunities.