Latest news with #KarnatakaStateCommissionforBackwardClasses
Deccan Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Court approval must for quota change, says Law Dept
This legal point may potentially come in the way of hiking the reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 32 per cent to 51 per cent -- one of the key recommendations of the report submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes to the government.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
False caste claims: Issue of Lingayat-Jangamas claiming to be Beda Jangamas to get reservation benefit comes to fore again
A huge jump in the population of Beda Jangama community during the enumeration for Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted by H. Kantharaj-headed Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes had raised eye brows and was seen as caused by many belonging to Lingayat Jangamas allegedly counting themselves as Beda Jangamas. The reservation benefits that Beda Jangamas or Buduga Jangamas, a community that is part of notified Scheduled Castes (SC) list, was seen as a reason for many Jangamas, coming under the larger Veerashaiava-Lingayats grouping, classified as other backward classes (OBCs), choosing to identify themselves as Beda Jangama, which is among the nomadic SCs. In the court As enumeration of SCs for the purpose of internal reservation is under way, controversies surrounding Beda Jangama claims have emerged again. While the Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa has flagged the issue of Lingayats counting themselves wrongly to avail reservation benefits, the Beda Jangama community itself went to court flagging another issue. It called 'discriminatory' the retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das-led Commission on Internal Reservation making showing of caste certificates mandatory for the community members during enumeration. They pointed out that the Beda Jangama caste certificate issual had been stopped for several years, following the 'fake certificate' controversy, and therefore, many genuine community members also did not have certificates. Nagmohan Das Commission may seek change of names of certain Scheduled Caste communities that are used as cuss words in Karnataka 'Though we initially made caste certificate mandatory for Beda Jangamas because of the problems associated with a number of community members holding caste certificate. However, later, we made any one of the three – caste certificate, Aaadhaar or BPL cards - to be mandatory during enumeration,' commission sources said. Mr. Nagmohan Das also acknowledged that the higher number of Beda Jangamas in the survey could upset the balance. 'There is a standard benchmark to track population growth. Any huge increase should be noted. It is up to the government to decide,' he told presspersons recently. He also said that the survey cannot keep out those who have caste certificate. Wading into the controversy is also Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa, who has flagged the issue both to the commission and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 'It has come to notice in recent years that Veerashaiva-Linagayat Jangamas, who are culturally and socially different from Beda Jangamas, are taking caste certificate and enjoying the benefit of reservation. Only the Telugu speaking nomadic Beda Jangamas should be counted in the survey,' he said. 'Abnormal increase' Pointing out at 'abnormal increase' in the population of Beda Jangama community, the Minister said that the population, which was 5,141 in 1961 general census, had increased to 4,10,804 by 2015 when the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes conducted the survey. He pointed out that this Telugu speaking community found in the border districts of Bidar, Kalburgi, Yadgiri, Raichur and Ballari are a meat-eating, nomadic community of soothsayers, who seek alms from Holeya and Madiga community and perform rituals for their members. 'They are initiated into priesthood to conduct rituals by the Mala Jangama seers,' he said. 'The enumeration of Beda Jangamas that would include Lingayat Jangamas also is a dangerous trend. They may consider inclusion of the survey as a proof of they being SCs. In the long run, this will affect political representation too. The government needs to take a stern call on taking action against this,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of Madiga Samudaya Jagrithi Andolana, representing Dalit (left) caste. D. Chandrashekaraiah of Chalavadi Mahasabha, representing Dalit (right), also urged the government to take action against those who are claiming to be Beda Jangama.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Forum of backward classes demands CM release survey report
Expressing disappointment over the delay in releasing the report of the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, the forum of backward classes in Shivamogga has demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah either resign or show decisive leadership for the emancipation of backward classes. In a press conference in Shivamogga on Friday, Ti. Na. Srinivas, district president of Hindulida Vargagala Okkuta, said Mr. Siddaramaiah ordered the survey during his first tenure as Chief Minister. Even two years after his second tenure began, the government had not released the survey report to the public. 'The report came before the State Cabinet as well. However, its release has been delayed. Some vested interests are stopping the report from being released,' he alleged. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had spoken about a caste census many times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced to include caste enumeration in the next census. 'Top leaders of both parties are in favour of the caste census. However, a few politicians belonging to dominant castes are opposing the caste census. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take a firm decision and release the report. If he could not release it, he should resign. If he was committed to the welfare of the backward classes, he should emulate former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs, who accepted L.G. Havanur's report despite opposition in his tenure,' Mr. Srinivas said. Rachappa, a retired professor, said that the recommendations of the survey report would benefit all castes in the backward classes. The report recommended an increase in the reservation under all categories in the backward classes, he said.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Only 11 ministers give opinion, cabinet defers decision on caste census as others seek more time
Bengaluru: The cabinet Friday deferred a decision on the contentious socio-economic and educational survey (caste census) report, as several ministers sought more discussions on it in the wake of concerns raised by politically significant communities about their population the report, which the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes submitted to the govt in Feb 2024, was presented to the cabinet on April 11 this year, ministers were given a concise version. Sources say only 11 ministers gave their opinion on the report at Friday's meeting, while others sought more time. This forced chief minister Siddaramaiah to defer the matter to the next cabinet meeting, tentatively fixed for May some ministers reportedly objected to inadequacy of information in the concise version of the report, the backward classes welfare department decided to provide more details. All ministers were given the second volume of the report on Friday, which contains detailed data up to taluk and CM directed ministers, especially those in charge of districts, to study the report in detail and give their views at the next cabinet ministers say the govt's move to defer a decision on the report was expected since the cabinet is divided on its findings. Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list Politically dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have objected to the report, claiming that their population figures were undercounted, while those of select communities are inflated. Deputy chief minister and Vokkaliga DK Shivakumar himself reportedly conveyed reservations about the report at the communities, including Brahmins, Vaishyas, Bunts, and Kodavas, have also objected to the report and, together with Lingayats and Vokkaligas, have urged the govt to scrap it. Several ministers representing these communities advised Siddaramaiah to keep the census in abeyance and wait for the national caste census announced by the and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil, who briefed reporters, said the govt is ready to accommodate concerns of all communities, and these issues will be deliberated in detail in the next cabinet meeting.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Caste census survey was about alleviating backwardness of communities and not about numbers, says Hegde
Bengaluru: The state's socio-economic and educational survey, commonly called the caste census , was meant to measure backwardness of communities, but the report — yet to be officially released in public domain — has been pilloried by representatives of politically dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities who claim their communities have been undercounted and that the survey was "unscientific".However, Jayaprakash Hegde, former chairman of Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes , who submitted the final report to the govt last year, defended the report, insisting that the figures are authentic and, in any case, the survey wasn't about numbers alone. Hegde spoke to TOI on the issue. Excerpts:It appears everybody has an axe to grind against the survey report. Was such a reaction expected?I don't know what they are aggrieved about. They should read the report first and then raise objections, if any. This survey is related to socio-economic and educational status, and it will provide solutions to alleviate backwardness of communities. As for the other part (population numbers), I cannot give an answer. Yes, we anticipated reactions, which is but natural when any decision is taken. All I can say to those who claim the report is unscientific is that they should tell us what is not scientific. Only then will we be able to answer their calculating the percentage of dominant communities such as Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Muslims, was it taken on the overall percentage of Karnataka's population or just on OBC numbers?It was based on the state's and Lingayat representatives allege that their numbers are low because many did not mention their main caste while listing their sub-caste. Do you agree with this explanation?No. We have taken abundant precaution to bring them together; it's all in one report shows the SC-ST population remains at 24%, while numbers of other communities have either risen or fallen. How is this possible?SC and ST people are spread across the state. But, for example, Vokkaligas' presence in North Karnataka is not as significant as in South Karnataka. Castes which are spread throughout the state have a majority. Moreover, there are parameters like family planning, migration that may have affected the numbers. The survey has not taken account of people outside methodology was used for the survey?The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes prepared a 44-point questionnaire format which was given to teachers and govt employees. These enumerators were trained by officials under deputy commissioners in every district. They went door to door and collected data. We must bear in mind that there was no data on caste after the 1931 a fresh SC-ST survey done?The Commission surveyed all castes, including SCs and STs. Govt amended the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1995, and gave permission to the Commission to survey all the Centre announcing a national caste census, do you think the state report has lost relevance?It will not lose relevance because there is a state list (OBCs) for have welcomed the central govt's decision to enumerate caste. What specific aspects would you like that census to focus on?We conducted a socio-economic and educational survey as it is a challenge to provide reservation based solely on caste. Understanding social and economic conditions makes it easier to decide which category individuals belong to and allocate reservation. I'm pleased with the Centre's decision. I would request the Centre to include socio-economic and educational data also in its census.
