Dalit left and Dalit right groups are anxiously reaching out to their communities to ensure that their populations are enumerated accurately. File image for representation.
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 the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the State and their socio-economic and education levels, which is set to get under way on 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 the SCs in Karnataka.
Karnataka to hold fresh survey of Scheduled Castes within 60 days to collect empirical data for internal reservation
Part of panel’s work
The caste census, conducted in 2015, has pegged the total SC population in Karnataka to be 1.09 crore 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. Nagamohan Das that has been asked by the 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 the 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.
The caste census, conducted in 2015, has pegged the total SC population in Karnataka to be 1.09 crore 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. Nagamohan Das that has been asked by the 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 the Karnataka Chalavadi Mahasabha, representing the Dalit ‘right’ group.
The issue over the 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.
The chaos of Karnataka’s caste survey
Regionals variations
If in Tumakuru, Ballari, Shivamogga, Davangere, 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, Ramanagara, Kolar, Bengaluru Urban, and Bengaluru Rural districts, Dalit ‘right’ is identified as AK while Dalit ‘left’ is identified by the name Madiga. Those identifying themselves as AA are in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural, Kolar and Chickballapur region.
“Handbills and stickers are being used to create awareness on how to list themselves. In Bombay Karnataka region districts of Gadag, Haveri, Vijayapura, and Bagalkot, besides parts of Kalaburagi, 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 the SC list,” said Basavaraj Kowthal of Madiga Samudaya Jagruthi Andolana.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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