Latest news with #GovernmentofKarnataka
Hans India
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Anil Kumble thanks Karnataka govt after being named State Forest and Wildlife Ambassador
Bengaluru: Anil Kumble, former India captain and the country's highest-ever wicket-taker in Test cricket, has thanked the Karnataka government for appointing him as the Karnataka State Forest and Wildlife Ambassador. Kumble is a known wildlife enthusiast and photographer who takes part in regular environmental protection activities in the state. "I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of Karnataka and the Minister of Forests, Shri @eshwar_khandre, for appointing me as the Ambassador of Karnataka State Forest Department and Wildlife Conservation," wrote Kumble in a post in Kannada on X. "I will strive to continue my work towards creating awareness about the diversity of flora and fauna of our state, supporting wildlife conservation and the development of the frontline personnel of the Forest Department," wrote Kumble. Kumble's appointment was announced earlier in the day via a social media post by the state's Forest Minister. "In the interest of forest and environment conservation and with the aim of creating awareness among the public, we have decided to nominate renowned cricketer and former Indian team captain Shri @anilkumble1074 as the Karnataka State Forest and Wildlife Ambassador," said Eshwar Khandre, the Minister of Forests in the Karnataka government. "Mr. Kumble has recently served as the Vice Chairman of the Karnataka Wildlife Board. His immense concern for wildlife, devotion to forests, and reputation in the social sphere make him the most suitable person for this responsibility," the Minister said in a post in Kannada on X. "It is a matter of pride that they have agreed to this service without receiving any remuneration and with a completely social purpose. "I am confident that this decision will give a new direction and vitality to forest conservation, wildlife protection, and environmental awareness in our state," the Minister said in his post.
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Tamanna Appointed as KSDL's Brand Ambassador
Bengaluru: Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil on Thursday stated that actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL). The move is aimed at expanding the global reach of the prestigious state-owned enterprise. The minister stated that the decision was made considering the actress's wide appeal, strong digital presence, and her ability to connect with the younger generation. Responding to objections raised by certain quarters, Minister Patil described the appointment of Tamannaah as a thoughtful and research-backed decision. She has been signed as the brand ambassador for a period of two years, for which she will be paid ₹6.2 crore. In the financial year 2024–25, KSDL recorded an impressive turnover of ₹1,785.99 crore, out of which around ₹1,430 crore—approximately 80%—was generated from six key states: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra. 'Our target is to reach ₹5,000 crore in sales by 2030, and in this context, a strong marketing strategy becomes vital. This appointment was made based on recommendations from marketing experts,' he highlighted. 'Other leading celebrities such as Deepika Padukone, Rashmika Mandanna, Pooja Hegde, and Kiara Advani were also considered. However, after evaluating factors like ongoing brand endorsements, availability, and associated costs, Tamannaah was selected for her strong pan-India appeal, reasonable engagement terms, and remarkable digital reach with over 28 million followers,' Patil said. Marketing experts felt that her persona resonates well with younger audiences and aligns with KSDL's brand values of quality, heritage, and contemporary relevance. He further added, 'It is important to note that this endorsement is only one part of a much broader strategic transformation currently underway at KSDL.' Highlighting KSDL's commitment to local employment, the minister pointed out that 89% of its workforce comprises Kannadigas. The enterprise is not only profitable but has also been contributing dividends to the Government of Karnataka, thereby supporting the state's development. Efforts are being made to expand into Middle Eastern and European markets. As part of its strategy, 435 new distributors are being appointed to strengthen KSDL's pan-India and international distribution network. Simultaneously, steps are being taken to enter modern trade and e-commerce channels, with a focused target of ₹500 crore, along with an export goal of ₹150 crore to improve global reach, he explained. 'It is a matter of pride that a government enterprise like KSDL has grown to the extent of establishing a unit in Vijayapura. We are also working on improving packaging appeal to enhance the brand's value,' the minister added. KSDL Chairman Appaji Nadagouda said that a strong and suitable strategy is crucial for expanding the brand in North India and global markets. Tamannaah's appointment is based purely on marketing criteria, and the government is committed to taking this 109-year-old state enterprise to even greater heights.
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.'
India Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka SC sub-caste survey on track to meet deadline, says panel head
Justice HN Nagamohan Das, who is heading the committee overseeing the internal reservation process for the Scheduled Castes (SC) in Karnataka, said on Thursday that the ongoing survey is progressing better than expressed confidence that the entire survey would be completed by the end of the extended deadline.'The progress is more than our expectation. I hope that within the extended time today that we have given, I am confident we will cover 100%,' said Justice Das, who is also tasked with submitting a report to the state government on internal reservations for The caste census, being carried out to determine the sub-caste distribution within the Scheduled Castes (SC) category, has encountered some difficulties. 'The main challenge is that in some of the Economically and Socially Challenged houses, households are not coming forward to declare their cash details,' Justice Das also highlighted significant gaps in awareness among respondents, particularly regarding sub-caste identities. 'Some of the people who have taken certificates as Adi Karnataka and Adi Dravida don't know that they're original castes. In the second category, some of them know their original castes, but they are not in the list. Some of them are not willing to disclose though they know their sub caste,' he Das emphasised that the method employed for the survey was both innovative and unprecedented in India. 'The Government of India has asked for information about the electronic, online method that we have adopted, and we have given the details. It is for them, but we have done a unique job, which nowhere in the country as of now, to my knowledge, this method is adopted,' he on the origins of the current process, Justice Das recalled that in his interim report he had recommended a new survey due to inadequate data for a scientific classification. 'In my interim report, I only said that on the basis of available data, it is not possible to make a scientific classification, therefore I recommend it to the Government of Karnataka to conduct a fresh survey. The government accepted my interim report and ordered a fresh survey.'The survey is part of a wider initiative launched by the Karnataka government on May 5, to gather empirical data on SC sub-castes, with the aim of guiding internal reservation policy. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had called it essential for ensuring social justice and equitable distribution of benefits. 'There are 101 sub-castes, including Left, Right, Lamani and others, but no empirical data is available,' he had said, adding that the 2011 census lacked this enumeration is being held in three phases: Home visits from 5 to 17 May, special camps from 19 to 21 May, and an online self-declaration option from 19 to 23 May. Over 65,000 schoolteachers have been deployed as enumerators, using a mobile application active daily from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. One supervisor is assigned for every 10 to 12 enumerators. 'If people miss the home visit, they can declare details at camps or online. Nobody should be left out,' Siddaramaiah had had said that the initiative fulfils a Congress manifesto promise and is backed by a Supreme Court ruling of August 1, 2024, that permits 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 had said. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Hindu Huddle 2025: Vipul Rikhi brings Kabir's teachings amid India-Pakistan tensions
On the second and final day of The Hindu Huddle held at Taj West End, Bengaluru, on Saturday, the air was heavy with discussions of the pressing India-Pakistan military conflict. Across multiple sessions, prominent speakers dissected political strategies, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the national mood in the face of escalating tensions. Yet amidst these high-stakes conversations, a different session stood out; not because it ignored the central issue, but because it offered a parallel, wider lens to look at it. In 'Beyond Love and Hate: Kabir's Message of Non-Duality,' poet, translator, singer, and storyteller Vipul Rikhi brought the 15th-century mystic Kabir into the heart of contemporary geopolitical anxieties. Vipul acknowledged upfront the importance of addressing the political realities of today. However, he gently urged the audience to also 'zoom out', to hold both the immediacy of current events and the timeless perspective that great poetry and wisdom traditions offer. Also Read | The Hindu Huddle 2025 Day 2 live updates Kabir, Vipul reminded the audience, stood not apart from the world, but squarely in its midst. 'Kabira khada bazaar mein,' the poet sang — Kabir stands in the middle of the marketplace, refusing to retreat to the mountains or the forest. He wishes well to everyone, holding neither special friendships nor special enmities. In a time when national discourse often fractures into sides, positions, and calculated interests, Kabir's stance offers a radical challenge: to act from a space beyond duality, beyond 'us' and 'them.' Through narration and evocative recitation, Vipul explored how Kabir's teachings navigate two levels simultaneously: the relative level, where divisions like victory and defeat, friend and enemy, exist; and the subtle, deeper level, where such distinctions dissolve. Kabir, he explained, points us to this subtle dimension, sometimes calling it love, sometimes the divine, sometimes Hari or Allah. When one taps into this dimension, he added, one's actions are transformed, becoming more real, subtle, and wise. One of the session's highlights was Vipul's telling of an old Rajasthani folk story, paired with a Kabir song: A small bird in a burning forest repeatedly dips herself in water, carrying drops to extinguish the fire, while larger animals scoff at her efforts. 'I am doing what I can,' the bird says. In Indian versions of the story, the gods, moved by the bird's love, bring rain and douse the flames. For Vipul, this story mirrors how small but sincere acts, when done from a space of love, can ripple outward with unexpected power. Vipul reflected on how easily we separate art, poetry, music, and spirituality from what we deem 'serious' political and social matters. Yet, he argued, these dimensions are deeply connected. The Hindu Huddle 2025 is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group Co-powered by: Government of Karnataka, Government of Telangana; Associate Partners: ONGC, Presidency University, TAFE, Akshayakalpa Organic; Energy Partner : Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Realty partner: Casagrand; Knowledge partner: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham; State partner: Meghalaya tourism and Haryana government; Luxury car partner: Toyota; Radio partner: Radio City; Gift partner: Anand Prakash; Broadcast partner: Times Now; Outdoor media partner: Signpost India
