Bengaluru: Three communities not listed under Scheduled Castes seek ways to resolve dilemma

Amid the ongoing online enumeration of the ongoing statewide Scheduled Castes (SCs) survey, three SC castes not included in the list of primary castes (Moola Jatis) are approaching it differently. The online survey started on May 19. 

The three communities in question are Mansa, Kembatti and Madiga Dasari. As of now, the SC list comprises 101 castes. This includes Adi Karnataka (AK), Adi Dravida (AD), Adi Andhra (AA) and 98 primary castes.

Leaders of the Mansa community, which has an estimated population of over 5 lakh and is present in coastal and Malnad regions, have refused to identify as either SC (Right) or SC (Left).

Honorary advisor to the Tulunad Mansa Samaja Seva Sangha S Achyutha told DH, “While some members of the community refused to divulge their caste to the enumerators, others boycotted the exercise altogether.”

Although members of the community possess certificates identifying them as belonging either to the Adi Dravida or Adi Karnataka communities, the survey questionnaire has a separate column for primary caste.

“We have, therefore, urged the (Nagamohan Das) Commission to include Mansa under the ‘Missing Communities’ heading,” said Achyutha.

The Das Commission is overseeing the excercise. 

Admitting that information about the primary caste could prove useful for the government, a source, however, added that individuals could always identify as being members of Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka or Adi Andhra communities for the sake of convenience.

Although grouped under the Holeya community, Kodagu-based Kembatti group members have demanded that their caste be recognised as a distinct sub-group under the ‘Holeya’ umbrella. The population of the community, members of which are mostly landless labourers, is estimated to be around 5,000.

Kodagu Zilla Kembatti Abhivruddhi Samaja general secretary Dinu Bojappa said, “Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna has promised to meet us after the conclusion of the survey. As of now, we are, however, registering ourselves as members of the Holeya caste. But some members are refusing to be registered as Holeyas.”

However, DH was unable to reach leaders of the Madiga Dasari community.

Justice H N Nagamohan Das, overseeing the survey, told DH, “We are considering adding the three castes to the list of communities. We need to consider all the legal aspects before taking a decision.”