ST quota: Valmiki/ Nayakas likely to move against reduction in reservation from 7% to 3%

Amid pressure from the Dalit Left communities to incorporate internal reservation in the proposed recruitment for 56,432 posts, the State government is likely to come under further strain as the Valmiki community, the biggest of the Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka, is learnt to be preparing ground to protest against the government’s decision to revert their reservation quota from 7% to 3%.

While district-level consultations among the community leaders are currently under way, Valmiki Prasannanandapuri Swami is scheduled to set a road map for the future after a meeting in Bengaluru next week. On Sunday, BJP leaders P. Rajeev and B. Sriramulu said in Chitradurga that they would hold a massive apolitical movement to seek 7% reservation.

“ A slew of meetings of community members across the State, in which leaders of all political parties attended, discussed bringing 56% reservation quota in the 9th schedule of the Constitution, since the enhancement of reservation for both Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was based on the population size. The community leaders feel that the current recruitment cycle should not be held at 50% since the STs could lose an estimated 2,257 posts,” a community member aware of the developments told The Hindu.

The community’s anxiety follows the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms’ (DPAR) notification that sets the guidelines for recruitment authorities/ departments on the reservation issues. With the Karnataka High Court hearing cases pertaining to both enhancement of reservation from 50% to 56% (because of increase in reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and STs from 3% to 7%) and internal reservation (sub classification of 17% quota between Madigas, Holeyas and touchable castes/ Nomadic castes), the GO allows recruitment with 50% reservation cap and without internal reservation.

The Dalit Left has been building pressure on the government to include internal reservation since the Governor has given assent to the Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub classification) Bill, 2025. Though the government has set aside 2% and 4% reservation for SCs and STs, respectively, in addition to 50%, subject to the court order, the communities have been wary of the move. The enhancement of reservation for SCs and STs was brought in through the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022.

The Valmiki community is the most politically influential and largest of the 50 Scheduled Tribes in the State, and has a sway on political power in 15 Assembly seats and three Parliament seats reserved for STs in Karnataka. The Valmiki/ Nayaka population was estimated to be about 33 lakh in 2011 census. 

While the leaders in the Congress have cited the court orders so far to justify the reduction, the BJP leaders are learnt to be wary of jumping into the fray openly as they fear being questioned about the party’s commitment to bring the legislation in the 9th schedule when the BJP was ruling both at the State and the Centre, sources said. The STs have recently protested in front of Public Works Minister Satish Jharkiholi’s residence in Belagavi. The community leaders are also meeting the political representatives to air their views.

Sarika Shobha Vinayaka, heading the Kannada Nadu Nayaka Okkoota, said that the seer would be taking the lead to protect the interests of the community, and the movement is likely to remain apolitical. “If a politician, either from Congress or the BJP, heads the movement, it will remain fractured. The seer is the acceptable face of the community across the State. Informal consultations to understand the broader impact have happened at the mutt,” she said. According to her, the seer is likely to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Cabinet Ministers in the coming days.

Plight of smaller tribes

The 49 smaller tribes, including two particularly vulnerable tribal (PVT) groups, in Karnataka whose combined population is estimated to be about 10 lakh as per 2011 census, are likely to be affected due to scaling down of reservation for STs from 7% to 3%. These tribes, mostly forest dwellers and some nomadic in nature, have been seeking internal reservation among the STs since they are unable to compete with the powerful Valmikis.

“These communities have not reaped the benefits of the reservation. We have been seeking internal reservations in the 7% space, and the shrinking of this quota to 3% will affect these smaller tribes. In fact, Myasa Bedaru, a sub sect of Valmikis, will also be affected,” said C.S. Dwarkanath, President of Alemari Budakattu Mahasabha, and former Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. He said that most of the 49 tribes have had no political representation and have not got reservation benefits either. “Since they are spread across regions, they do not become politically significant groups. We have held meetings to understand the implications. To jostle in a 3% reservation will become tough for them,” he said.