Internal quota: 1.77L Beda Jangamas removed from SC list

Bengaluru: Amid allegations of some Lingayats misusing reservation meant for Scheduled Castes (SCs), 1.77 lakh people enumerated as Budga/Beda Jangama have been removed from the SC list in the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission report on internal reservation for SCs.

The SCs survey enumerated 1.07 crore people, and categorised Beda/Budga Jangamas under group A (most backward communities). Out of the 3.22 lakh enumerated as Beda/Budga Jangamas, 1.44 lakh have been retained in category A, while 1.77 lakh have been removed from the list. 

According to a document by the Social Welfare Department, 1.17 lakh Beda/Budga Jangamas were found in the state according to the 2011 census. "Since the subsequent growth (3.22 lakh) is artificial, 1.44 lakh have been added to category A, and the remaining 1.77 lakh have been removed," the document adds.  

Another 14,449 people who got married to persons of another caste were not found to be SCs and were removed from the list. As a result, the final number of SCs in the list has come down to 1.05 crore.  

Synonymity of castes

The decades-long issue of Lingayats obtaining Beda/Budga Jangama certificates is due to the synonymity of castes. A section among the Lingayats is called Beduva Jangama. However, there are no anthropological or sociological similarities between the two. The Beda/Budgma Jangamas are called so for hunting tortoises, rats and so on, and for seeking alms by using a musical instrument called 'Budga'. They are non-vegetarians.

Though the Lingayat Jangamas also seek alms, they mostly do so from houses of fellow Lingayats and are vegetarians. 

In May, after the SCs' survey had begun, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge had publicly warned state Congress leaders during an event in Hosapete not to include Lingayat Jangamas amongst SCs.

SC (left) largest sub-group

According to the commission's findings, 59 communities have been grouped under Group A/ most backward communities. These include communities such as Dakkaliga, Dombara, Godda, Mala Dasari and so on. Their population is 5.22 crore and have been recommended 1% reservation.

The SC (Left) group, consisting of Madiga and 17 other castes, has a population of 36.69 lakh. These communities have been categorised under Group B/more backward communities and have been recommended 6%.

This is followed by the SC (Right) group comprising Holeya and 16 other communities. Their population is 30.08 lakh, and they have been categorised under Group C/backward communities and have been recommended 5%.

The population of 'touchable' Dalits (Banjara, Bhovi, Korma and Korcha) is found to be 28.34 lakh, and they are categorised under Group D/less backward communities and have been recommended 4%. Finally, those who don't know their original caste and don't want to be identified as such, have been categorised under Group E for Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka and Adi Andhra categories. Their population is 4.74 lakh and have been recommended 1%.

While SC (Left) groups have mostly welcomed the report, the SC (Right) and 'touchable' communities have expressed their reservations. According to sources, Home Minister G Parameshwara and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa - both SC (Right) - are said to have expressed some reservations.