Quota for nomadic communities: Karnataka Government assures equitable distribution of internal reservation

Karnataka Government has assured the federation of the untouchable Nomadic communities of equitable distribution of internal reservation quota.

Following the assurance, the Karnataka Federation of Untouchable Nomadic Communities has temporarily suspended the ‘Belagavi Chalo’ protest announced earlier.

Government sources said that the government is likely to present the Bill on internal reservation in the House on Monday (December 15, 2025).

In a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Ministers, leaders of the federation on December 8, 2025, various solutions to the issue were discussed.

The delegation highlighted the government’s continued inaction in addressing historical injustice faced by nomadic communities, which has now led to a serious crisis. Owing to a High Court stay related to the nomadic reservation issue, not only internal reservation but all recruitment processes have come to a halt.

“Without a clear government decision, the petition pending before the High Court cannot be withdrawn, and the stay cannot be vacated,” they said. To resolve the issue, the delegation proposed various options.

The options include, separating nomadic communities from Category C and granting them 1% reservation under a separate Category A, or redistributing reservation by taking equal portions from existing A, B, and C categories to grant 1.5% reservation to nomadic communities, or proceeding with arguments in court by January 30, 2026 and accepting the High Court’s verdict. “The government must choose one of these paths,” they said.

The delegation also reiterated long-pending demands for a separate Nomadic Development Corporation and a special package for education, housing, and self-employment. They urged the government to clearly announce its stand while introducing the Bill in the current session.

State govt. has set aside ₹10-crore grant for development of nomadic communities

All Ministers present supported the legitimacy of the demands. The Chief Minister, in his concluding remarks, assured that the demand for a separate corporation would be considered, a special welfare package would be implemented and that the reservation issue would be addressed through one or the other way keeping the suggestions in the meeting.

He acknowledged that earlier decisions were taken under political compulsions despite knowing they caused injustice, and assured, however that the government would not abandon nomadic communities.

Federation leaders, Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, H.K. Patil, and other Ministers and officers were present.