Karnataka govt to form panel to look into demand for increasing reservation for STs

BENGALURU: The state government on Tuesday announced setting up of an expert committee to look into the demand for increasing reservation being provided to scheduled tribes (STs) in Karnataka from existing 3 per cent to 7.5 per cent on the lines of the Union government.
Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara announced the decision while addressing people of the Valmiki community, who were protesting at Freedom Park here seeking increase in reservation.
“The state cabinet will discuss the issue and an expert committee will be formed to look into the demand. We will fulfil your demand in two months,” Parameshwara said.
The protesters had walked over 370 kms for 16 days from Rajanahalli village in Davanagere disrict to Bengaluru under the leadership of Prasannanand Puri swami of Valmiki Gurupeetha.
Parameshwara also endorsed the demand of the community as ‘just and genuine’ stating that the SC, ST population accounts for about 24.1 per cent of state’s population and they need to be given reservation in proportionate to their population. Currently, these communities are enjoying 15 per cent and 3 per cent reservation respectively.
A delegation of ministers, MLAs and representatives of Valmiki community also met chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and held talks. Kumaraswamy also assured the community leaders that the government was in favour of their demand but needs time to work out means to increase reservation without disturbing other communities.
The protest was withdrawn following assurance but with a warning that they would restart the agitation after two months if their demand was not met.
Earleir, while addressing protesters, Prasannanadapuri swami called upon all MLAs belonging to scheduled tribes to resign if the government did not heed to their demand. There are 17 MLAs from scheduled tribes.
“The government is already on life support. You give resignation letters to me. I will see to it that Kumaraswamy giving in to our demand,” he said.
The community has been demanding for increase in reservation since 1991 after all synonymous names of Valmiki communities were classified as STs by the Centre. “This resulted in increase of population of STs in Karnataka and the demand for enhancement of reservation started,” said VS Ugrappa, former Ballari MP.
Before 1978, the population of STs was very less in Karnataka as only the Nayaks of Belagavi and Kadu Kurubas and Jenu Kurubas of Malnad region were classified as STs and provided reservation. But after the area restriction order was removed by the Devraj Urs government in 1978, all Nayakas and Konda Reddys of Hyderabad-Karnataka and Marathas of Kodagu declared themselves as STs. Before that Nayakas of Ballari and Raichur were classified as backward tribes.
In 1991, the Union government also classified all synonymous names of Valmiki community as scheduled tribes. “Since then the demand for increasing reservation started,” Ugrappa added.
The Centre has already increased the reservation to STs to 7.5 per cent in 2005 in education and jobs besides providing political reservation for STs in Lok Sabha, assembly and local bodies in proportionate to their population.