A huge jump in the population of Beda Jangama community during the enumeration for Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted by H. Kantharaj-headed Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes had raised eye brows and was seen as caused by many belonging to Lingayat Jangamas allegedly counting themselves as Beda Jangamas.
The reservation benefits that Beda Jangamas or Buduga Jangamas, a community that is part of notified Scheduled Castes (SC) list, was seen as a reason for many Jangamas, coming under the larger Veerashaiava-Lingayats grouping, classified as other backward classes (OBCs), choosing to identify themselves as Beda Jangama, which is among the nomadic SCs.
In the court
As enumeration of SCs for the purpose of internal reservation is under way, controversies surrounding Beda Jangama claims have emerged again. While the Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa has flagged the issue of Lingayats counting themselves wrongly to avail reservation benefits, the Beda Jangama community itself went to court flagging another issue.
It called “discriminatory” the retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das-led Commission on Internal Reservation making showing of caste certificates mandatory for the community members during enumeration. They pointed out that the Beda Jangama caste certificate issual had been stopped for several years, following the “fake certificate” controversy, and therefore, many genuine community members also did not have certificates.
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“Though we initially made caste certificate mandatory for Beda Jangamas because of the problems associated with a number of community members holding caste certificate. However, later, we made any one of the three – caste certificate, Aaadhaar or BPL cards – to be mandatory during enumeration,” commission sources said.
Mr. Nagmohan Das also acknowledged that the higher number of Beda Jangamas in the survey could upset the balance. “There is a standard benchmark to track population growth. Any huge increase should be noted. It is up to the government to decide,” he told presspersons recently. He also said that the survey cannot keep out those who have caste certificate.
Wading into the controversy is also Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa, who has flagged the issue both to the commission and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “It has come to notice in recent years that Veerashaiva-Linagayat Jangamas, who are culturally and socially different from Beda Jangamas, are taking caste certificate and enjoying the benefit of reservation. Only the Telugu speaking nomadic Beda Jangamas should be counted in the survey,” he said.
“Abnormal increase”
Pointing out at “abnormal increase” in the population of Beda Jangama community, the Minister said that the population, which was 5,141 in 1961 general census, had increased to 4,10,804 by 2015 when the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes conducted the survey.
He pointed out that this Telugu speaking community found in the border districts of Bidar, Kalburgi, Yadgiri, Raichur and Ballari are a meat-eating, nomadic community of soothsayers, who seek alms from Holeya and Madiga community and perform rituals for their members. “They are initiated into priesthood to conduct rituals by the Mala Jangama seers,” he said.
“The enumeration of Beda Jangamas that would include Lingayat Jangamas also is a dangerous trend. They may consider inclusion of the survey as a proof of they being SCs. In the long run, this will affect political representation too. The government needs to take a stern call on taking action against this,” said Basavaraj Kowthal of Madiga Samudaya Jagrithi Andolana, representing Dalit (left) caste. D. Chandrashekaraiah of Chalavadi Mahasabha, representing Dalit (right), also urged the government to take action against those who are claiming to be Beda Jangama.
Published – May 18, 2025 04:43 pm IST
