Banjara, Bhovi, Korama, Koracha oppose State govt.’s quota formula

 Opposing the State Cabinet’s decision to approve the internal reservation matrix with the 6:6:5 formula by reducing the five categories recommended by the Nagamohan Das Commission to three, members of various Scheduled Castes under the aegis of Banjara, Bhovi Korama Koracha Kshemabhivruddhi Sangha took out a protest march here on Monday.

The agitating members, led by Chincholi MLA Avinash Jadhav, MLC Sunil Vallyapur, the former Minister Baburao Chavan and religious heads, gathered at Jagat Circle and marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

They were seen carrying bamboo baskets, brooms and other tools signifying their traditional occupations.

Criticising the State government, they said that though the commission has classified sub-castes among the Scheduled Castes into five categories for providing 17% reservation, the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet has reduced it to three with 6% each for Dalit Right and Dalit Left communities and 5% for Banjara, Bhovi, Korama, Koracha and 59 other touchable communities.

Mr. Avinash Jadhav accused the State government of doing injustice to 63 communities, including Banjara, Bhovi, Korama and Koracha.

The erstwhile Basavaraj Bommai-led government in the State accorded 4.5% reservation for these four communities, Banjara, Bhovi, Korama and Koracha and now, the Siddaramaiah-led government has accorded 5% reservation for 63 communities among Scheduled Castes.

Mr. Vallyapur and Mr. Chavan termed the Nagamohan Das Commission report on internal reservation as unscientific and biased. They demanded reassessment of the recommendations.