Forward of the recent caste census beginning later this month in Karnataka, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha has urged members of the group to record their faith beneath the ‘Others’ class. The choice was taken following a gathering of the Mahasabha on Sunday.
Within the upcoming census, six religions akin to Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist can be listed, moreover the ‘Others’ class. Neighborhood members have been requested to choose the ‘Others’ class within the faith column, and enter Veerashaiva Lingayat beneath the sub-head.
Equally, beneath the caste column, they should enter both Veerashaiva or Lingayat, and within the sub-caste column, they need to point out their particular sub-caste identify, stated Eshwar Khandre, state forest minister and vice-president of the Mahasabha. In line with the organisation, this is able to make sure that the group’s inhabitants is precisely mirrored when the census particulars are launched.
Shankar Bidari, who heads the state unit of the Mahasabha, stated such classification will assist determine backwardness inside the group and allow acceptable advantages. In earlier surveys, Veerashaivas and Lingayats have been handled as one caste, and no official recognition was given for a separate faith. This must be thought-about, he stated, including that the Census ought to determine backward, extra backward and very backward castes inside the Veerashaiva Lingayat group.
Sources within the Mahasabha informed The Indian Categorical that although the group had been pushing for the standing of a separate faith since 2000, there wouldn’t be any such calls for forward of the caste census. “The choice to decide on the ‘others’ class is just to make sure that efficient enumeration of the group is carried out,” a member of the organisation stated, noting that Hindus and Veerashaiva Lingayats have a number of sub-castes which share the identical identify.
Citing an instance, the member stated that whereas Hindus had Kshaurika, an occupation-based caste comprising barbers, there’s additionally a Lingayat sub-caste with the identical identify and occupation. “If these individuals enter their caste as Hindus, then the inhabitants of Veerashaiva Lingayats won’t be correct. The Mahasabha has taken the decision to handle these considerations,” he stated.