Koracha community opposes internal reservation matrix finalised by Karnataka govt.

The Akhila Karnataka Koracha Maha Sangha has opposed the internal reservation matrix finalised by the Karnataka government, demanding its review in the interest of nomadic communities whose population does not exceed one lakh.

In a press conference in Shivamogga on Friday, Bannur Suresh, president of the Shivamogga district unit of the Maha Sangha said that as per the survey conducted by the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das commission, the population of the Koracha community was about 56,000; however, in the 2011 census, the population of the community was slightly above 55,000. “The survey conducted by the commission has shown that the population of the caste increased by only 800 people in 15 years. This is not possible. Hence, we believe that the survey conducted by the commission was faulty,” he said.

Further, Mr. Suresh said that the State cabinet had placed the community under the C-category along with Banjara, Bhovi, and other communities recommended for 5% reservation. “All these years, our community has not seen any progress, either politically or educationally. We cannot compete with other castes in the category. It would be better if the government separates us from the category and places us along with either the castes identified as Right or the Left. If that is not possible, then a separate group of nomadic castes should be established whose population does not exceed one lakh, and a 2% reservation should be allocated to them,” he said.

C. Jayappa, the honorary president of the Maha Sabha, said that the cabinet’s decision was not in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on internal reservation. The government did not consider socio-economic and educational backwardness to fix the reservation matrix, he remarked.