Karnataka: Forest-dwelling tribal communities demand internal reservation

MYSURU: With the Karnataka government’s decision to increase the reservation for Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, the demand for internal reservation from the forest-dwellers has started in parts of the old Mysuru region - Mysuru, and Kodagu districts which have huge tribal population.
According to the community leaders, forest-dwelling tribes like Jenu Kuruba, Kadu Kuruba (Betta Kuruba), Erava, Soliga, etc are denied educational and employment opportunities all these years.
“It is the time to notify internal reservation to ensure justice, and correct the historical mistake,” they claim.
Kala Kalkar, a resident of Basavanagiri Hadi in HD Kote taluk who is also a member of the forest rights act committee, and president of forest-dwelling Basavanagiri Farmer Producers Company Limited said, this is high time to implement the internal reservation among the STs to ensure representation for forest dwelling tribal.
“Originally we were only on the ST list. However, till now the forest-dwelling tribal are not able to get political, educational, or employment opportunities using this reservation. So, we need an internal reservation,” he said.
“The economic and social condition of the forest-dwelling tribal population remains unchanged as we are not able to get any benefits of reservation. This is the high time to implement the internal reservation,” he said.
Vijay Kumar, an activist from HD Kote also echoed a similar opinion.
“Show one MLA from forest dwelling communities even though 15 seats are reserved for the STs. The last MLA from our communities was elected in the year 1972 from Virajpet. Since then we are not able to use any of the benefits of the reservation,” he said.
“There are 12 forest-dwelling tribal communities in the state. We are demanding the state government to give justice to all of us,” he said.
Social scientist G K Karanth from Bengaluru observed that he does believe reservation must continue and cater to the excluded in a discriminatory society.
“Just as castes and tribes demanded a quota out of the larger pool, it is natural and justified that those left out or deprived of opportunities will sooner or later demand specific allocation within the allocated quota. This is inevitable in the resultant society that will eventually churn out a distinguishable 'creamy layer.' What may happen depends on the numbers of those making the demand, for the decision is keeping the votes in mind. Concerns for social justice get amplified prior to an election,” he observed.