Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet has finalised internal reservation for Scheduled Castes by restructuring the existing 17 per cent quota into three categories, bringing an end to decades of demand and agitation.
As per the new arrangement, Dalit Right groups (including Holaya, Adi Dravida, Adi Andhra and Adi Karnataka) will get 6 per cent reservation, and Dalit Left groups (including Madiga and 18 similar communities) will also get 6 per cent, while 5 per cent has been earmarked for touchable Scheduled Castes such as Lambani, Bhovi, Korama and Koracha, along with 59 nomadic and micro-communities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will present the Cabinet decision before the Assembly. Official orders are expected later this week, following which all government appointments and recruitments will adopt the revised classification.
The Nagamohan Das Commission had earlier recommended a five-way division within the SC quota, including a separate 1 per cent share for Adi Dravida, Adi Andhra and Adi Karnataka, and 4 per cent for touchable communities. This had triggered strong opposition from Dalit Right and touchable groups. Responding to the dissent, the Cabinet has now reduced the categories to three, balancing the allocation.
Leaders from Dalit Right communities, while noting that their population is larger than that of Dalit Left groups, said they were satisfied with the 6 per cent allocation in the interest of unity.
Once notified, the revised classification will apply to all future government recruitments in the state.
