Latest news with #Socio-EconomicandEducationalSurvey
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Cabinet discussion on caste census again remains inconclusive
A discussion by the Karnataka Cabinet on the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey or caste census yet again remained inconclusive and it would come up for talks in the next Cabinet. Briefing about the Cabinet meeting decisions on Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said three to four Ministers have not given their opinions on the survey in writing and therefore the discussion remained inconclusive. Reports of the survey were given to Ministers at the April 17 Cabinet meeting. The meeting on May 9 again postponed discussion on the caste census report. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the Ministers to give their opinions in writing.
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.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Turbulent, but afloat
The Congress government in Karnataka is all set to mark its second anniversary on March 20 with a mega event in Hosapete in north Karnataka. It has been an eventful two years for the man in the hot seat. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has adroitly managed the State's economy, including the cost of funding the Congress' five 'guarantees'; handled the social welfare agenda; and met developmental and infrastructural needs even if this has meant raising the prices of fuel and liquor to mop up additional resources. His government has rolled out programmes and increased allowances to several segments of society. It has spent close to ₹80,000 crore on the five 'guarantees', including free bus rides for women. It has also successfully conducted a Global Investors' Meet this year and exceeded its target by netting ₹10 lakh crore worth of investments. But the Chief Minister has also weathered many a political storm, including attempts to usurp his post, factionalism in the Congress, alleged scams, and the combined onslaught of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular). His series of troubles began with the alleged multi-crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, which is still under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. This was followed by the alleged illegal allotment of 14 sites (now surrendered) by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to his wife Parvathi; political tensions over the State Backward Classes Commission's Socio-Economic and Educational Survey; and the problem of factionalism. On many occasions, Karnataka also faced social tensions, but the government handled these situations firmly and thwarted attempts to foment caste and communal strife. After its relentless campaign in the 2023 Assembly elections regarding the '40% commission' corruption charges against the previous BJP government, the Congress, ironically, now finds itself tainted in the same manner and seemingly unable to leap ahead on the developmental front. The government set up a judicial inquiry commission to probe the alleged commission in awarding public contracts during the BJP government's tenure. But so far, no conclusive evidence has been found barring some serious lapses and irregularities in COVID-19 management. Meanwhile, the government has also been on a collision course with Raj Bhavan and the Narendra Modi-led Union government. It strongly protested against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for sanctioning the prosecution of Mr. Siddaramaiah in the MUDA land issue, even while he has not sanctioned prosecution of JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy despite repeated requests by the Karnataka Lokayukta. The government also faulted the Governor for withholding Bills passed by the State legislature and for reserving for the President's assent its Bill providing a 4% quota for Muslims (under the Other Backward Classes quota) in public contract works. The Congress dispensation has also often attacked the Modi regime for denying fair share in the devolution of taxes to Karnataka, cutting grants under the 15th Finance Commission, and delaying clearances for long-pending irrigation projects. The government has waded through several law and order issues too. In 2024, a bomb exploded in a café in Bengaluru. The same year, a student, Neha Hiremath, in Hubballi, was stabbed to death; recently, a Hindutva activist, Suhas Shetty, in Mangaluru, was murdered. A few borrowers who were unable to repay loans taken from unregistered microfinance institutions died by suicide. The State Police have also allegedly misused privileges in the gold smuggling case involving actor Ranya Rao. Amid speculation over a possible leadership change, the factions loyal to Mr. Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been involved in shadow fighting in a bid to undermine each other for the last two years. Ultimately, the intervention of All India Congress Committee chief Mallikarjuna Kharge forced the warring factions to calm down, at least for the time being. With India and Pakistan agreeing to a ceasefire, the government has decided to go ahead with its 'Sadhana Samavesha (achievements rally)' on May 20. But going forward, it certainly needs more peace between its factions.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka cabinet defers caste census discussion, yet again
BENGALURU: The State cabinet once again deferred discussion of the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (SES-2015) or caste census, on Friday. Law Minister HK Patil said it will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting. Reports of the survey were given to ministers at the cabinet meeting held on April 17. They had decided to discuss it on May 2, and deferred it to May 9. Now, the cabinet has again postponed discussing the caste census. Patil told reporters that the Backward Class Commission had submitted its report to the cabinet. A discussion was initiated, and some ministers gave suggestions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. While 11 ministers gave their opinion in writing, the remaining are yet to do so, Patil said. Asked if the delay was because of the Union government's plans to include caste in the next census, he denied it. Backward Classes Minister Shivaraj Thangadagi said, 'We have decided to discuss it at the next cabinet meeting, which will be held next week.'
