Karnataka to issue modified ST list, drop 3 castes

Karnataka to issue modified ST list, drop 3 castes
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

BANGALORE, AUG 11: Karnataka government today decided to modify the list specifying the castes included in the Scheduled Tribe category in consonance with the Centre's list and decided to drop three castes, including Kuruba community.

Minister of State for Information, B.K. Chandrasekhar told reporters here after a cabinet meeting that in the wake of objections by the Centre against the state including castes such as, Maleru, Maaleru and Kuruba, the names of which were not found in its list, the government decided to delete them.

He said, however, communities like Kadu Kuruba and Jenukuruba would continue to enjoy reservation benefits applicable to STs.

He said the meeting debated on the issue of community members belonging to valmiki, bedaru and parivara availing the benefits being extended to STs though they are not included in the Centre's list, but no decision was taken on the future course of action to be initiated.

He said during 1984-85 the state government issued a list of ST including some castes and the Centre wrote to the state saying that inclusion or deletion of any caste from the list was the prerogative of the Union Government and not that of a state.

Chandrasekhar said the stree shakti programme announced by the government in its budget to help women entreprenuers with self help groups assistance would be launched on september 1.