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The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka's Dalit Caste Survey: Mapping Inequality to Reshape Reservation Policy
Published : May 20, 2025 19:13 IST - 11 MINS READ A narrow lane abutting Sri Guru Singh Sabha, the largest gurdwara in Bengaluru, located on the periphery of Ulsoor Lake in central Bengaluru, leads to a dense warren of bylanes which are collectively known as M.V. Garden. In one of these minuscule bylanes, in mid-May, a knot of women surrounded Munishame Gowda holding aloft their Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and Scheduled Caste certificates. Gowda, a schoolteacher, is an official enumerator appointed by the Justice (Retired) H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission, which has been constituted to conduct a Comprehensive Survey of Scheduled Castes in Karnataka. A woman named Shabila waited patiently as Gowda keyed in crucial identification details about her on a specially designed app on his mobile phone. Before proceeding with recording the socio-economic data of her family based on 42 separate parameters, he asked Shabila for the OTP (one-time password) that should have come as an SMS on her phone. Everyone waited for the OTP; the women, calmly, and Gowda, frustratedly. 'I have visited 28 households since the morning. It is easy to verify identity information with the ration cards but in some cases, the Aadhaar card is not linked to the ration card and this is causing a lot of problems.' The OTP finally came and Gowda entered this into the app before commencing his questions: 'Caste?' 'Scheduled Caste Adi Dravida,' Shabila responded. 'Sub-caste?': 'I don't know.' After this, a list of questions followed: members of household, marital status, education, income, occupation (organised/unorganised sector), government job if any, benefits obtained from reservation, political representation, type of residence, agricultural land, vehicles owned and similar questions with the final query being 'Is your household subjected to any social discrimination stigma?' After running through this list for around 20 minutes, Gowda took a picture of Shabila's signature and submitted the form on the app on his mobile phone. With this household done, Gowda moved on to the next woman who was waiting for her turn and began to ask her the same set of questions. Gowda is one of the 59,000 enumerators enlisted for the mammoth survey being undertaken by the Government of Karnataka to cover the approximately 25 lakh Dalit households in the State. The survey is being done in three phases: in the first phase, which began on May 5 and will go on till May 25, all Dalit households in Karnataka will be visited. Special camps would be held in the second phase between May 26 and 28 and in the final phase between May 19 and 28; an online self-declaration option would be provided to respondents. The aim of the Commission in conducting this comprehensive survey is to use this empirical data to recommend a policy of internal reservation among Dalits in Karnataka. Also Read | Caste census: A powerful tool to reimagine the nation The Nagamohan Das Commission was constituted by the Karnataka government in November last year following the landmark Supreme Court judgement of August 1, 2024, which upheld the Constitutional validity of States to provide internal reservation (subclassification of different castes) for Dalits in education and government employment under the broader Scheduled Caste reservation quota. Interestingly, this judgement (State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh), was delivered by a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud after considering the contrarian judgements of two five-judge benches of the Supreme Court: In 2004, a five-judge bench had disallowed subclassification, while, in 2020, a five-judge bench had allowed subclassification. Thus, the matter was adjudicated by this seven-judge bench, which also emphasised that subclassification must be done based on 'quantifiable and demonstrable data by the States which cannot act on its whims.' Dalits in Karnataka There are 101 Dalit castes in Karnataka. Numerically, most of the Dalit castes in Karnataka are divided into two broad agglomerations: the Madigas (or the left-hand Dalits, consisting of 30 castes) and the Holeyas (or the right-hand Dalits, consisting of 25 castes), both of which were deemed 'untouchable' castes historically. While the Madigas worked with leather and its byproducts, the Holeyas were agricultural labourers. Apart from this, there are also 'touchable' Dalit castes such as the Lambani, Bhovi, etc., which are lesser in number when compared to these two large clusters. Since the 1990s, Madigas have been demanding that internal reservation be implemented in Karnataka as they alleged that the benefits of reservation policies were disproportionately gobbled up by the Holeyas, thus depriving them of equitable benefits. Responding to this clamour, a Commission was appointed in 2004, headed by Justice AJ Sadashiva, which studied the issue and submitted its report in 2012. Although the report never saw the light of day because of its immense socio-political implications, leaked copies sharply confirmed the sense that Madigas were relatively more backward than the Holeyas and the 'touchable' Schedule Castes, even though they were more in number. It is widely acknowledged by political observers in Karnataka that it was Siddaramaiah's (who was Chief Minister at the time) dithering on formally accepting the Justice Sadashiva Commission report that was a contributing factor leading to the defeat of the Congress in the 2018 election, as Madigas abandoned the party and endorsed the BJP. In 2022, the then BJP government entrusted Law Minister J.C. Madhuswamy to submit a report on subclassification of Dalits based on which Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hastily implemented a policy of internal reservation but this was merely a red herring as, since the matter was slated to come up before the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, it could not be implemented. When there is a Commission's report available already (i.e., Sadashiva Commission report), what was the need for another Commission to gather the same data? Speaking to Frontline, Justice Nagamohan Das answered this question, 'In the 2011 Census of India, the Scheduled Caste population of Karnataka was stated to be around 104 lakhs, but in Justice Sadashiva's survey, which was conducted within a few months of the Census, this number came down to around 96 lakhs. Among the respondents in the Justice Sadashiva survey, 23 per cent listed their caste as Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida, or Adi Andhra. Each of these is not a separate caste but a group of castes. Respondents can either belong to the Holeya or Madiga grouping, so without knowing the subcaste, it is not possible to devise a policy of internal reservation.' (Even the 2011 Census of India recorded that 43 per cent of the Scheduled Castes in Karnataka identified as Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida or Adi Andhra). The knotty conundrum to which specific subcaste Dalits, who state their caste as Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra, or Adi Dravida, belong to has its provenance in a decision taken more than 100 years ago in 1921. According to Justice Nagamohan Das, a government notification was issued in the princely state of Mysore whereby all members of the 'Depressed Classes' had to record their caste as one among these three. 'Kannada-speaking Dalits came to be known as Adi Karnataka, and similarly, Tamil and Telugu-speaking Dalits began to refer to themselves as Adi Dravida and Adi Andhra, respectively. There was a huge migration to Mysore from neighbouring territories because of which it was difficult to extend benefits to migrants and locals based on their social status, so this notification was issued,' he explained. The Social Welfare Ministry has also issued several advertisements in newspapers advising respondents to list their subcaste if they belong to these three specific linguistic Dalit groupings. According to Justice Nagamohan Das, respondents are aware of their subcaste but do not acknowledge it publicly. This information regarding a Dalit's specific subcaste is also easy to verify in a rural milieu where caste identity is public knowledge but in urban areas (as Shabila's case showed) the ignorance may not be a pretence. It is unclear how the Justice Nagamohandas Commission will wade through this hurdle as it will be difficult to accurately quantify the tally of Holeyas and Madigas in Karnataka without resolving this quandary. Data collection is also representing a significant challenge in Bengaluru where enumerators have complained that apartment complexes were not allowing them inside for the survey. Justice Nagamohan Das added that ascertaining accurate numbers of each Dalit caste was the first step but a recommendation could not be as simple as apportioning reservation based just on demographic data, so a further, detailed dataset on social, economic and political indices was also being gathered so that internal reservation could be provided based on a caste's relative backwardness when compared to other Dalit castes. 'There are some Dalit castes who have many Group A officers, but certain other Dalit castes do not even have an attender (a Group D job) among them. We should ensure that everyone gets representation,' he added. Questions have been raised, though, on the hasty way through which a survey of this magnitude is being undertaken. Indudhara Honnapura, senior journalist and one of the founder members of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti in Karnataka, said, 'The survey should be perfect but a few days is insufficient to do this. Of the 101 Dalit castes in Karnataka, 51 are nomadic, semi-nomadic and denotified castes. Among these, many are microscopic communities that do not have address proof, voter identification, they have no land and are constantly on the move. How will they be surveyed?' Members of the Commission have also acknowledged the significance of this problem although it is unclear how information of persons belonging to these migratory communities is being gathered. In a public note issued on May 19, Social Justice Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa stated that 'Once the survey period is completed, the Commission will incorporate information about Scheduled Castes who have been left out of the survey and will also correct any mistakes in the information gathered.' Honnapura also hoped that the Nagamohan Das Commission's recommendations for reservation would go beyond education and government employment and extend into the political realm because 'none of the smaller marginalised Dalit communities have attained political representation.' Honnapura's point about political representation stems from a real concern, as all 36 Scheduled Caste MLAs in the current Karnataka Legislative Assembly belong only to four Dalit castes or agglomerations: Holeyas (14), Madigas (8), Lambanis (7) or Bhovis (7). There are no MLAs from other, smaller Dalit castes. This figure also shows that the cluster of Madigas, who, by popular reckoning, constitute the largest number of Dalits in Karnataka, have fewer MLAs when compared to the Holeyas. Also Read | Will Karnataka's caste survey unlock a new era of political equities? Concerns have also been raised on how certain non-Dalit communities are attempting to enlist as Dalit castes in the survey. In two letters to Justice Nagamoha Das on May 13 and 15 respectively, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa cautioned the Commission that Lingayat Jangamas (a non-Dalit caste) were trying to list themselves as Beda/Budla Jangamas (a Dalit caste) in north Karnataka and that some members of the Mogaveera caste (a backward caste) in coastal Karnataka were attempting to list themselves as members of the Moger caste (a Dalit caste). Throughout history, the census, or surveys of that nature, have led to profound reconfigurations of sociological identity of vast groups of individuals. Studies on the history of the census in India from its colonial origins in 1871, and in its decennial iterations since then, have shown how nebulous identities have elided leading to the creation of homogenous monoliths. While lacking the grand scale and cachet of a census, the ongoing survey in Karnataka has also led to caste groups and associations using traditional and social media to spread their message with Holeya and Madiga associations and leaders taking the lead. In their advisories, they strongly recommend that only prescribed caste names must be provided to survey enumerators. Such advertisements have been legion in Kannada newspapers over the past few weeks with the officially endorsed caste names helpfully listed to make the process straightforward. Consolidating and bolstering their numbers seems to be important for the leaders and political representatives of both these agglomerations as it could potentially lead to advantages when the matrix of internal reservation is finally recommended, and, subsequently implemented. This development made a senior Dalit leader, who has closely observed the trajectory of the Dalit movement in Karnataka, lament, as he saw this as a step back for the Dalit movement, which in the early decades since its founding in 1974, even transcended its caste moorings with its progressive worldview. 'Holeyas and Madigas are fighting among themselves to ensure that they secure the benefits of reservation while ignoring smaller communities. Internal reservations for Dalits is the need of the hour but it could have been done unanimously by all Dalit communities. My pain is that the dominant Dalit communities did not support this justified demand.'
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC internal reservation survey: Karnataka extends deadline to May 25
The deadline for Karnataka's ongoing survey aimed at collecting empirical data for internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SCs) has been extended. Retired Karnataka High Court judge H N Nagmohan Das, who heads the commission conducting the exercise, announced the extension. The data collection process, which began on May 5, was originally set to conclude on May 17. It will now continue until May 25, news agency PTI reported. For those left out during the door-to-door survey, camps will be held from May 26 to 28 for registration. Additionally, a self-declaration facility will be made available online from May 19 to 28. (Also Read: Karnataka to receive electric buses under PM E-Drive: HD Kumaraswamy) Addressing the media, Justice Das said, 'There were certain technical problems, we were able to overcome them. The survey is smoothly going on and the progress is more than our expectation. Within the extended time today that we have given, I'm confident we will cover a hundred per cent survey.' He added that the commission has already covered 72 per cent of the targeted households. While they were confident of hitting 90 per cent by the earlier deadline, several organisations and community leaders requested an extension. 'Considering all factors, we have taken this decision to extend,' he said. Karnataka has around 25.72 lakh SC households. On the challenges faced, Justice Das explained that some SC households were reluctant to reveal their caste identities. Others who have certificates under categories like Adi Karnataka and Adi Dravida either do not know their original caste or find their sub-caste missing from the official list. Some, even when aware, were unwilling to disclose it, he said. Justice Das noted that the Centre had asked for details about the electronic method used for the survey and that the commission had shared the information. 'We have done a unique job, and nowhere in the country this method is adopted as of now, as per my information,' he said. He also clarified that his interim report had recommended a fresh survey, as the existing data was insufficient for a scientific classification. The Karnataka government accepted this recommendation and ordered a fresh round of data collection. The cabinet had taken this decision on March 27. The move comes amid longstanding demands from sections within the SCs—especially those identified as 'SC Left'—who allege that only a few dominant sub-castes have been cornering most benefits while others remain marginalised. The internal reservation policy seeks to redistribute the existing 17 per cent SC quota among the 101 scheduled castes in the state. In November last year, the state government appointed Justice Nagmohan Das to lead a commission to recommend a framework for this internal classification. This came after a Supreme Court ruling on August 1 last year allowed states to create sub-classifications within SCs, recognising their social heterogeneity and enabling equitable distribution of reservation benefits to more marginalised communities. (Also Read: ISKCON Bengaluru wins 13-year legal battle over Hare Krishna Temple ownership) (With agency inputs)
India Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka launches exclusive survey to gather data on Scheduled Caste sub-groups
The Karnataka government on Monday launched a statewide caste census exclusively for Scheduled Castes (SCs), aiming to gather empirical data on sub-caste demographics to guide internal reservation policy. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the exercise is essential to ensure social justice and equitable distribution of reservation enumeration will be held in three phases: door-to-door visits from May 5 to 17, special camps from May 19 to 21, and an online self-declaration window from May 19 to 23. A one-member commission led by retired High Court judge Justice HN Nagamohan Das will supervise the process and submit its report within 60 are 101 sub-castes, including Left, Right, Lamani and others, but no empirical data is available. When the Sadashiva Committee submitted its report, it identified population distribution. Now we need verified data,' Siddaramaiah said, reiterating that the 2011 census lacked such granularity. 'This is being done exclusively for Scheduled Castes to determine who belongs to which sub-caste, especially when many identify simply as Adi Dravida, Adi Kannada, or Andhra,' he added. More than 65,000 schoolteachers have been deployed as enumerators, with one supervisor for every 10 to 12 of them. The data collection will be carried out using a mobile application active from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. 'If people miss the home visit, they can declare details at camps or online. Nobody should be left out,' the Chief Minister added that the initiative was part of the Congress party's election manifesto and came in response to demands from SC communities and a Supreme Court ruling dated August 1, 2024, which allowed states to introduce internal quotas for SCs based on empirical evidence. 'To clarify sub-caste identities and ensure internal reservation, we have formed this one-man committee. The Cabinet will take a decision based on its report,' he Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa assured that the process would be transparent. 'There is no apprehension. Whatever the committee recommends, the Cabinet will consider. Any doubt is an illusion,' he said. 'An app has already been developed by the Department of Science and Technology to ensure transparency and prevent misuse. All 65,000 personnel have been trained.'A public helpline (94813/59000) has been activated to assist respondents during the survey period. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Karnataka To Conduct Census Of Scheduled Castes From May 5 To 17
Bengaluru (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that the state will conduct a census of Scheduled Castes (SCs) from May 5 to 17, and will collect detailed population data of all SC sub-castes in the state. The state government has formed a single-member commission, headed by retired High Court judge Nagamohan Das, to gather empirical data on the 101 castes within the Scheduled Castes category. Speaking at the press conference, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "We have started a caste-wise census of Scheduled Castes today. Justice Nagamohan Das is leading the commission to provide an accurate report for internal reservation. There are 101 castes listed under Scheduled Castes in Karnataka, including sub-groups like Left and Right Hand, Lamani, Korama, and Koracha. We need clear data on the population of each group." He added that previous reports, like the one by the Sadashiva Commission, used outdated data from the 2011 Census, which lacked clarity on the sub-caste distribution. "Some people simply wrote SC in the forms, but didn't specify whether they belonged to the Left or Right-Hand groups. For example, Adi Dravida and Adi Karnataka have been listed both ways. This confusion makes it hard to implement internal reservations fairly." The Chief Minister explained that after a Supreme Court ruling on August 1, 2024, states have been empowered to make internal reservations among SCs. Based on that, the state has acted to collect fresh, accurate, and detailed data. "To ensure the data is accurate, we've trained teachers and enumerators. Around 65,000 teachers are involved in door-to-door surveys," he said. Supervisors will oversee every 10 to 12 enumerators to ensure quality and consistency. Additionally, from May 19 to May 20, special camps will be held for those who missed the door-to-door survey. People can also self-declare their caste details online until May 23. "This data will help us ensure fair internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, based on real population figures," the Chief Minister said.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt prepares for door-to-door survey on SC reservation demand
Bengaluru:The government is gearing up to conduct a long-awaited door-to-door survey regarding the reservation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, set to commence from May 5. This survey is in response to the ongoing demand for internal reservation, particularly for the most marginalized sub-castes within the SC community. For decades, there has been a push from the SC community for the implementation of internal reservation. The Supreme Court, in a significant ruling on January 1, 2024, granted states the authority to implement SC reservation according to their demographics. Following this, the High Court established a one-member commission led by retired Justice H.N. Nagamohana Das, tasked with submitting recommendations regarding SC categorization by November 12, 2024. The state categorization list includes a total of 101 sub-castes, prompting the need for clarity on which sub-castes fall under the categories of Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida, and Adi Andhra. The commission is tasked with gathering records, evidence, and data on backwardness to prepare a scientific and logical report on SC reservation categorization, with a deadline of two months for submission. The commission has also recommended conducting the survey for empirical data representation of various sub-castes within the SC community. With preparations underway, the Nagamoohana Das commission will begin the door-to-door survey on May 5, aimed at evaluating the sub-castes and representation of the SC community. The comprehensive survey will assess not only sub-castes but also the socio-economic conditions of the SC community, covering a period from May 5 to May 17. Questionnaires have been prepared for this purpose, and staff training is currently being conducted. From May 19 to May 21, designated centres will be established at the Panchayat level for individuals who may not have been reached through the door-to-door survey. Those unable to attend in person will also have the option to declare their details online from May 19 to May 23 via a specially developed app and web portal, as stated by retired Justice H.N. Nagamoohana Das. To facilitate this comprehensive survey, a total of 58,960 enumerators have been appointed, who will visit households to conduct the survey. Approximately 6,000 supervisors will oversee the data collection process. Training sessions for the enumerators are in progress, with master trainers from the state providing guidance at the district level. Training for 150 master trainers has already been completed in Bengaluru, with additional training scheduled at the taluk level over the next few days. Justice Nagamoohana Das has reached out to the government to expedite the release of data concerning the SC community from the caste census report. On April 11, the findings of a social and educational survey conducted by the Backward Classes Commission (2015) were presented to the Cabinet. The commission had submitted this report in a sealed envelope to the government on February 29, 2024. Nagamoohana Das has submitted a letter to the government requesting the release of caste census report data, crucial for assessing the statistics of the SC to previous data, the SC population in the state stands at 10,929,347, with 2,847,232 residing in urban areas and 8,082,115 in rural regions. While the official sub-caste count for the SC community is 101, this number has risen to 182 in the caste census, necessitating a thorough data collection process by the Nagamoohana Das commission. Justice H.N. Nagamoohana Das has formally requested that the government provide the caste census report data. However, the government has yet to release this information. Once available, the sub-caste data will be reviewed for accuracy. 'We are all set to conduct the door-to-door survey from May 5 to May 17. We have appointed 58,960 enumerators, and there will also be options to provide information online. Questionnaires have been prepared, and it's crucial for everyone in the SC community to participate and provide accurate data. This will facilitate the timely allocation of internal reservations,' Justice H.N. Nagamoohana Das stated.
