Latest news with #NagmohanDas
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC survey panel seeks extension to May 28 for full inclusion of nomadic groups in Karnataka
BENGALURU: The committee conducting the state-wide survey of Scheduled Castes, headed by Justice Nagmohan Das, has sought an extension of its deadline from May 23 to 28 to ensure full and accurate enumeration. This is to accommodate responses from historically underrepresented nomadic SC groups such as the Lambani, Banjara, Alemari and others who have sought time to furnish details, said Justice Das here on Friday. But the survey is on track for timely completion despite initial hurdles. Launched on May 5, it has already covered an estimated 72% of its target. 'We are confident of completing the survey well within May 28. The extension is not because of delays but to guarantee 100% inclusion and authenticity,' he told the media. The ambitious survey has drawn national attention, with Union authorities seeking details into Karnataka's methodology, he said, adding, 'We have already shared our survey protocols and progress with the Centre.' On concerns about the exclusion of certain SC communities, such as Mansa, Kembatti, Madiga Dasari and Mera, he said that while these groups are availing SC benefits under broader categories like Adi Karnataka or Adi Dravida, efforts will be made to ensure their accurate nomenclature in official records. 'We will inform the government about their specific identities so that due process is followed to officially include them in the SC list, which currently comprises 101 castes,' he said.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Internal reservation: Dalit right and left groups start awareness campaigns on choice of nomenclature
Karnataka has been having intense discussions on the population data of castes and sub-castes after the contents of the Socio, Economic and Educational Survey (caste census) report was accepted by the State Cabinet. Simultaneously, several developments are unfolding, though more quietly, around another survey to map Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the State and their socio, economic and education levels, set to get underway from May 5. In the run up to it, Dalit left and Dalit right groups are anxiously reaching out to their communities to ensure that their populations are enumerated accurately. The numbers are crucial as they are set to determine the internal reservation for the caste groups within the larger reservation matrix of 24% for SCs in Karnataka. Part of panel's work The caste census, conducted in 2015, has pegged the total SC population in Karnataka to be 1.09 crores or about 18.2% of the total population. The survey to identify SC households and their sub-castes is part of the work of the commission headed by retired Judge H.N. Nagmohan Das that has been asked by the Karnataka government to recommend internal reservation. 'We are urging all the castes and sub-castes in the larger Dalit right community to use the original name of their castes/sub castes during enumeration and not use nomenclatures of Adi Karnataka (AK), Adi Dravida (AD) or Adi Andhra (AA). Teams have been formed and awareness camps are being held in all districts across Karnataka,' said D. Chandrashekaraiah, an office bearer in Karnataka Chalavadi Mahasabha, representing the Dalit right group. Why the survey is being conducted The survey results will help H.N. Nagmohan Das Commission to secure empirical data and recommend internal reservation An attempt by BJP to provide internal reservation in 2022 based on recommendation of 2012 A.J. Sadashiva Commission had not fructified The Dalit left group accuse Dalit right group of cornering the reservation benefits. The Ddalit left group, based on figure arrived at by the 2012 A.J Sadashiva Commission report, claim their number to be higher than the Dalit right, which is contested. There is confusion about the usage of Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida and Adi Andhra — pre-independence nomenclatures — coined to bring together group of castes. While Madras Presidency had notified Telugu speakers as AA and Tamil speakers under AD in 1922, the Mysore princely state had notified AK in 1925, bringing both Dalit right and Dalit left communities together. 'These nomenclatures are only used for grouping, and over years, both sides have come to use them randomly, resulting in confusion,' he added. While there are 101 Scheduled Castes in Karnataka, there has been confusion over the nomenclatures of AK, AD and AA classifications used by these groups. There are about 29 castes/sub-castes among Dalit right and 32 castes/sub-castes among Dalit left, both of which are labelled as 'untouchable' castes. The rest are either bracketed as 'Others' or those that are 'touchable' castes, including Lambani/ Banjara, Bhovi, Korma-Koracha and Beda Jangamas. The issue over slicing up of 24% reservation following the Supreme Court's order on internal reservation comes from the fact that both Dalit right and Dalit left community members have AK certificates, depending on the regions. Both communities are also found to be using nomenclatures of AA, AD and AK. Regionals variations If in Tumakuru, Ballari, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Chitradurga, KGF and Udupi, the Dalit right identify themselves as AD and Dalit left are identified as AK, in Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Mandya, Ramanagar, Kolar, Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, Dalit right are identified as AK while Dalit left is identified by the name Madiga. Those identifying themselves as AA are in Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Kolar and Chikkaballapur region. 'Handbills and stickers are being used to create awareness on how to list themselves. In Mumba- Karnataka region districts of Gadag, Haveri, Vijayapura and Bagalkote, besides parts of Kalburgi, people call themselves as 'Madar' which is serial number 21 in the notified list. However, we are asking all Dalit left communities to register themselves as 'Madiga', which is serial number 61 in SC list,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of Madiga Samudaya Jagruthi Andolana.
