Panchamasali Lingayats' Quota Demand

• 25 Jul 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, the Panchamasali Lingayats,  a sub-caste within Karnataka's dominant Lingayat community, have been demanding inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

• This move aims to secure a 15% quota in government jobs and educational admissions, in contrast to the current 5% quota under Category 3B of Karnataka’s OBC quota matrix.

What is the Panchamasali Lingayats' Quota Demand?

• Panchamasali Lingayats: The Lingayats, officially classified as the Hindu sub-caste 'Veerashaiva Lingayats,' are followers of the 12th-century philosopher-saint Basavanna. 
  • Basavanna initiated a radical anti-caste movement, advocating for a personal, affective relationship with God, specifically Lord Shiva, rejecting orthodox Hindu practices. 
  • The Lingayat community consists of various sub-castes, with the agriculturalist Panchamasalis being the largest, making up nearly 70% of the Lingayat population and approximately 14% of Karnataka’s total population.
• Current OBC Quota Categories in Karnataka:
  • The demand for inclusion in Category 2A emerged prominently in 2020.
  • Karnataka's 32% OBC reservation in government jobs and educational institutions is divided among five categories. 
  • The Category 2A, which the Panchamasalis seek to join, includes 102 castes.
    • The complex categorization aims to prevent dominant OBC groups from monopolising the quota benefits, ensuring equitable distribution based on relative marginalisation.

• Earlier Steps By Government:
  • The previous state government attempted to placate the Panchamasalis by reallocating the 4% Muslim quota under Category 2B to the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, creating new Categories 2C and 2D. 
  • This increased the Lingayat quota from 5% to 7% and the Vokkaliga quota from 4% to 6%. 
    • However, the Panchamasalis insisted on inclusion in Category 2A, and the reallocation faced legal challenges. 
• Current Situation and Government's Stance:
  • The government has been awaiting a legal resolution from the Supreme Court. The findings of the Karnataka Social, Economic, and Caste Survey, expected to impact future quota plans, are also pending. 
  • The state government might consider including all Lingayats in the central OBC list as a balancing act.
    • Currently, only 16 Lingayat sub-castes who are considered “very backward” are provided reservations under the OBC quota for central government jobs and college administrations.

Read more: Vokkaligas, Lingayats share in Reservation

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statements: (2014) 

1. They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand. 
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool. 
3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b) 

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Mains:

Q. Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation from a statutory body to a constitutional body. (2022)

Q. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economies? (2014)