Karnataka Urged to Act on Scheduled Caste Benefits for Dalit Converts

The Congress-led Karnataka government is yet to take a clear stance on whether Dalits who have converted to Christianity or Islam should receive the same reservation benefits as Scheduled Castes (SCs). This issue has recently come under scrutiny during a two-day meeting led by the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission, which was held recently in the state to gather feedback on social welfare policies.

A senior official from the Social Welfare Department has disclosed that the government remains “uncommitted” regarding the extension of SC benefits to Dalit converts. The official stated, “Karnataka can refrain from taking a stand on the issue as Dalit converts already fall under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.” This position reflects the current policy, where Dalit Christians and Muslims benefit from reservations under the OBC category.

At present, Karnataka provides a 4% reservation for Dalit Christians under Category 2-B. Dalit Muslims can access benefits through 17 Muslim communities listed in Category-1 and 19 communities in Category 2-A. Christians and Jains are classified under Category 3-B. The state has been cautious about modifying these categories, noting that states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have already granted SC reservation to Dalit converts.

“There is a debate at the government level on whether Dalits who converted to Christianity and Islam should be included in the SC category,” the official added. “Karnataka was one of the first states to include Muslims and Christians in the OBC category, which is why the government has not made any recommendation to the Justice Balakrishnan Commission on the matter.”

Dr Manohar Chandra Prasad, convener of the Karnataka Dalit Christian Mahasangh, argues that the issue of SC reservation for Dalit converts should be addressed in a national context. “Most neo-Christians come from Dalit and tribal communities, and even after conversion, they continue to face discrimination while maintaining family ties. This discrimination underlines the need for SC reservation for Dalit Christians,” he said.

Dr Prasad further highlighted concerns over increasing harassment of Dalit Christians by right-wing groups. “There is increasing harassment by radical Hindu organisations. Their prayer meetings are disrupted and their homes are attacked. Including Dalit Christians in SC reservation will give them protection and political representation at par with Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs,” he argued.

A study conducted by the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Studies at NLSIU underscores the significance of this issue. The study reveals that more than half of India’s Christian population, including in Karnataka, are Dalits. This demographic detail underscores the urgent need to address the caste-based disparities within the Christian community.

As the debate continues, the Karnataka government faces mounting pressure to reconsider its stance and align with the practices of other states in extending SC benefits to Dalit converts. For now, the state remains in a holding pattern, reflecting a broader national discourse on caste, religion, and social justice.

This article is originally published on https://clarionindia.net/karnataka-urged-to-act-on-scheduled-caste-benefits-for-dalit-converts/