Why youth of North Karnataka rely heavily on govt. jobs?

The recent massive protest by government job aspirants in Dharwad has once again highlighted a deeper structural imbalance in Karnataka’s regional development. For the protesting youth — who come from many parts of educationally and industrially backward regions in North Karnataka to Dharwad to enrol in coaching centres for competitive exams — a government job is not just one among several career options, but the only one.

Historically, these areas have lagged in industrial investment, private-sector growth, and large-scale infrastructure expansion. Unlike industrially advanced districts, where manufacturing units, IT firms, educational campuses, and service industries provide diverse employment avenues, backward regions often offer limited alternatives beyond agriculture, informal trade, and small-scale occupations. A government job is often the only route for economic and social mobility.

The Karnataka Regional Imbalances Redressal Committee (2026), headed by economist M. Govinda Rao, which submitted its report recently, said that both in terms of the numbers and the intensity of backwardness, North Karnataka has the largest concentration of backward taluks. It called Karnataka a “State of contrasts”, with Belagavi division having the largest share (33.7%), followed by Kalaburagi division (26.1%).

Development economist Prof. Chandra Pujari attributes the widening regional imbalance to policy choices that concentrated on growth in a few urban centres. He argues that Karnataka’s industrialisation and service-sector expansion have remained overwhelmingly Bengaluru-centric.

Picture of contrast

“Large-scale industries, start-ups, IT companies, and much of the service economy are clustered in Bengaluru. A significant share of foreign direct investment flows into the capital and a few pockets in southern Karnataka. Bengaluru alone contributes more than 33% of the State’s Gross Domestic Product. If a couple of forward districts such as Mysuru and Mangaluru are added, their combined contribution accounts for well over half of Karnataka’s GDP. A similar disparity is visible in per capita income, with Bengaluru topping the list at around ₹7.39 lakh, compared to districts in Kalyana Karnataka where per capita income hovers below ₹1.5 lakh,” he observes.

He points out that more than 80% of the rural population in South and Coastal Karnataka depends on non-agricultural sources of income. In contrast, two-thirds of people in North Karnataka rely on agriculture.

“This structural imbalance affects income levels, educational quality, and exposure. The educational ecosystem in backward districts is not as robust, and students often lack access to skill-based training and industry linkages and limited exposure to campus placements,” he says, explaining heavy reliance on government jobs.

Another development economist, Sangeeta Kattimanii, who hails from Kalyana Karnataka, argues that the region needs incentive structures such as capital subsidies and production-linked incentives, complemented by parallel improvements in infrastructure to create an industrial ecosystem.

Untapped tourism potential

A crucial dimension of this imbalance is the uneven development of tourism as a source of employment. Regions such as Mysuru have built a robust tourism ecosystem around palaces, wildlife sanctuaries, heritage structures and cultural events. In contrast, vast stretches of Kalyana Karnataka and neighbouring districts with a rich historical legacy remain far from harnessing their tourism potential. The globally renowned World Heritage Site of Hampi in the Vijayanagara district stands as a notable exception.

Numerous sites of historical and archaeological value remain underdeveloped and inadequately promoted. The ancient Buddhist centre of Sannati in Kalaburagi district, Maski in Raichur district known for its Ashokan edict and prehistoric settlements, and several other potential sites have no tourism economy to speak of that can generate jobs.

Article 371(J)

Efforts to address regional imbalance, particularly in Kalyana Karnataka, have gathered momentum over the past decade. In 2013, the Constitution was amended to insert Article 371(J), granting Special Status to the region. The provision enables reservation for local candidates in public educational institutions and government employment, and led to the establishment of the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), with special grants.

Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Ajay Singh, chairperson of KKRDB, said 25% of the Board’s allocation has been earmarked for strengthening education.

“We have declared the last two years as ‘Education Years’. Under the Akshara Aavishkara scheme, 25% of the ₹5,000-crore grant is being utilised to upgrade government schools. This year, the government has sanctioned 100 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) to the region, and KKRDB has added 200 more. Our focus is on improving educational infrastructure and prioritising skill development to enhance employability,” he said, adding that the Board is supporting LKG and UKG classes in 1,008 of the 9,249 schools in the region.

He emphasised the need for separate industrial and agricultural policies tailored to Kalyana Karnataka. “Large-scale industries will come only if competitive incentives are offered. Once industrialisation gathers pace and students are trained in industry-aligned skills, private-sector employment will expand, reducing dependence on government jobs,” he said.

Published – February 27, 2026 08:05 pm IST