Survey identifies 23,395 former Devadasis in 15 districts of Karnataka

A survey of former Devadasi women in Karnataka has shown a nearly 50 % decline in the numbers identified in the State over the previous survey conducted in 2007-2008. While 46,660 women had been identified as former Devadasis in the 2007-2008 survey, the number has come down to 23,395 in the 2025 survey.

While activists working for the rights of former Devadasis have expressed scepticism over the numbers thrown up by the latest survey, officials claim that the declining numbers are due to deaths or those who have moved up the social ladder refusing to take part in the survey.

Among the key recommendations of the report is that affixing father’s name should not be mandatory in the application forms in educational institutions and other places for children of former Devadasis. It has also recommended announcing a special package for the former Devadasi families for their rehabilitation.

Women and Child Development Department sources said that the upcoming Budget could announce a special package for them.

Conducted over three and a half months between September 15 and December 31, 2025, the survey has also identified 90,092 persons belonging to the first, second and third generations of the former Devadasi families in Karnataka.

The focus of the survey was on collecting details such as social condition, education levels, information of dependents, employment details, ownership of agriculture land, skill training, health condition, basic infrastructure and access to pension.

The survey was conducted in Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Raichur, Koppal, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Davangere, Shivamogga, Ballari and Vijayanagar districts.

Other recommendations

The report has also recommended providing financial assistance for the marriage of children from former Devadasi families and encouraging inter-caste marriages.

The report has said that a special student scholarship should be announced for children belonging to former Devadasi families since a large number of them hail from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. It has also said that special training should be provided to prepare the children from former Devadasi families for competitive examinations.

Further, it has recommended providing special training in agriculture and animal husbandry, besides providing financial assistance for skill development. Medical assistance under various programmes to former Devadasis and their family members has also been recommended.

Minister for Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkar, in a statement, said that the survey was conducted to collect accurate information about the former Devadasi families and government would take further steps based on the recommendations.