Panchamasali Lingayats' Quota Demand | 25 Jul 2024
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)
- They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
- They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool.
- 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)
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)