Deprived of various facilities, Banajigas hit the warpath

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The community cauldron in Karnataka is getting hotter with each passing day with the Banajiga community staging a protest at Freedom Park demanding change of reservation status from 3A Category to 2A category. They are demanding the change as they claim they are being deprived of various facilities after the change from 2A category to 3A category in 1994.

A look at reservation demands

Kurubas want ST tag

The Kuruba or shepherd community in Karnataka was categorised as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), until 1977. But the Backward Class Commission under Justice LG Havanur removed the ST tag and brought the community under the OBC category. The movement has gained momentum as the reservation for STs has been increased.

Kadu Gollas

The Kadu Gollas are clubbed with the Golla community (OBC) by law, but these predominantly forest dwellers have been seeking to be re-classified as a Scheduled Tribe (ST). They have argued that their lifestyle and culture are entirely different from that of Gollas who are a “dominant” community receiving all the benefits.

EWS

Many have criticised the implementation of EWS, as only five communities are eligible for the quota in Karnataka — Brahmins, Jains, Aryavaishyas, Nagarthas and Modaliars. They make up an estimated 4% of the population, and this would make them overrepresented in education and government jobs.

Internal reservations

Over the last few months, the demand for internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes (SC) has significantly increased. The demand to implement the Justice AJ Sadashiva Commission report, which suggested the re-classification of 101 SC communities into four categories has been consistently brought up.