Latest news with #Bhovis
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nagamohan Das Commission urged to consider Bhovis as a caste instead of sub-caste
A delegation of leaders belonging to the Bhovi community met retired judge H.N. Nagamohan Das, who is leading the commission on internal reservation for scheduled castes, and urged him to ensure that the Bhovis are considered as a caste instead of a sub-caste during the ongoing survey. The commission is conducting a survey of all the 101 scheduled castes to apportion reservation in proportion to the population of each caste to ensure internal reservation. The delegation comprising Sri Immadi Siddarameshwara swami and former chairperson of Bhovi Development Corporation G.V. Seetharamu met Mr. Das in Bengaluru on Tuesday and brought to his notice that the enumerators were categorising Bhovis under a main caste like Adikarnataka before listing them under the sub-caste Bhovis. Contending that thousands of entries of Bhovis had been made under a sub-caste after listing them under a main caste like Adikarnataka, the delegation members in a representation urged the commission to consider all such entries made in this manner so far as those belonging to Bhovi community. The representation signed by G.V. Seetharamu, who is also the spokesperson of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), has sought a clarification from the commission on the status of Adikarnataka, Adiandhra, and Adidravida castes in view of the conflicting claims over classification. 'While some claim that they are not the names of castes historically, others argue that these castes had been listed in the 1950 Presidential order and all subsequent amendments. 'Which is correct?', asked the representation submitted to the commission. The memorandum also drew the commission's attention to the fact that the ration cards of some of the members of the Bhovi community were shown as they belonged to Scheduled Tribes (ST). Attributing the lapse to mistakes committed by the officials of Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. Seetharamu urged the commission to ensure that the enumerators considered the Aadhaar, voter ID or caste certificates of the Bhovi community members.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Internal reservation: Questions raised over classification of Bhovis as sub-caste instead of main caste
Former chairman of Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation, G.V. Seetharamu, has raised questions over the classification of Bhovis as sub-caste instead of main caste during the ongoing survey of scheduled castes taken up ahead of the implementation of internal reservation. In a statement here on Sunday, Mr. Seetharamu, who is also a spokesperson of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), alleged that the enumerators conducting the survey were often entering 'Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra, and Adi Dravida' first as the main caste and later entering Bhovi as a sub-caste, even though there is an option to enter Bhovi in the main caste/sub-caste column. 'This is causing injustice to the Bhovi/Vaddar community,' he said. Inclusion of Bhovi with 69 other sub-castes under the sub-caste column was causing 'discrimination' against our community, Mr. Seetharamu alleged. In many places, the enumerators were first recording Bhovis as Adi Karnataka under option 003 and later recording them as sub-caste under 023.1 as Bhovis, he said and pointed out that thousands of members of the Bhovi community have been registered in such a manner over the last five days. He claimed that enumerators had been instructed to record Bhovis under sub-caste only after distinguishing their main caste as Adi Karnataka. Contending that the data recorded in such a manner was 'incorrect', Mr. Seetharamu demanded that the data be re-evaluated so that all of them are considered as members of the Bhovi community. Mr. Seetharamu also sought action against the enumerators, who were adopting 'faulty' methodology, leading to 'injustice' towards the Bhovi community. The ongoing survey by the one-man commission headed by Justice H.N. Nagmohan Das will be enumerating the 101 castes under the Scheduled Castes ahead of the implementation of internal reservation. Mr. Seetharamu also raised the issue of conflicting claims over the historical classification of Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida, and Adi Andhra. 'Some argue that these are not names of castes, while some others contend that these castes have been listed in the 1950 Presidential Order and all subsequent amendments. So, which is correct?' he questioned. Among the other issues raised by Mr. Seetharamu is the reference to Bhovis as 'ST' instead of 'SC' in the ration cards issued by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies. 'We belong to the SC community, and our caste data should be recorded as such. Instead of relying solely on ration cards, our Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, or caste certificates should be accepted as valid proof,' he said. He also urged that the children and daughters-in-law living in the household are not excluded from the enumeration.
