Beda Jangama vs Lingayat Jangama: Karnataka minister flags potential caste survey anomaly, writes to CM

Bengaluru: Karnataka Food & Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa has urged the government to ensure that 'touchable' Lingayat Jangamas are not enumerated as the 'untouchable' Beda or Budga Jangamas during the ongoing survey of Scheduled Castes.

In a four-page letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Muniyappa said surveyors should use discretion while enumerating people identifying themselves as Scheduled Castes by using the nomenclatures of Beda or Budga Jangama.

A statewide survey of Scheduled Castes is underway to collect empirical data to provide internal reservation.

Muniyappa, an SC himself, explained to Siddaramaiah that the Beda-Budga Jangamas Telugu-speaking migratory people found in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Ballari, Tumakuru and Kolar districts. They are categorised under Scheduled Castes in Karnataka, the minister stated.

"Traditionally, the Beda-Budga Jangamas are the priests for the Holeya and Madiga communities. They are initiated into priesthood by the Mala Jangama community's pontiff. They make a living by begging and soothsaying," Muniyappa stated, adding that the Beda-Budga Jangamas are non-vegetarians.

Muniyappa made an alarming observation on the "unnatural" rise in the population Beda-Budga Jangamas in the state. In 1961, their population was 5,141. This figure became 1.21 lakh in 1991, 1.17 lakh in 2011 and 4.10 lakh in 2014.

"In recent years, the touchable Lingayat Jangamas, who are connected with the Lingayat and Veerashaiva communities, have obtained bogus caste certificates by claiming to be Beda and Budga Jangamas of the Scheduled Castes and are availing reservation benefits," Muniyappa stated.

Muniyappa further cited KS Singh's The Scheduled Castes to point out that the Beda and Budga Jangamas are "completely different" from Karnataka's Lingayat Jangamas.

"Therefore, surveyors should be sure to check the social and cultural background of those claiming to be Beda and Budga Jangamas during the survey of Scheduled Castes," Muniyappa stated.

The ongoing survey of Scheduled Castes started on May 5 and is scheduled to end May 17. Special camps will be held from May 19-21 for those who missed the door-to-door survey. There will also be an option for online self-declaration from May 19-23.