Bangalore:10 Oct 2025
Key problems faced by the Kurubara Sangha and the Kuruba community in Karnataka include the ongoing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, recent temple and land disputes, and broader issues of social and economic marginalization.
Demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status
The Kurubara Sangha has been at the forefront of a long-standing movement to reclassify the community from Other Backward Class (OBC) to the ST category.
Political maneuvering: The issue is a major political point of contention, especially with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah belonging to the Kuruba community. Opponents, particularly the BJP, have accused the Congress of pursuing the demand for political gain.
Contention over reservation: Other communities, particularly the existing ST Nayaka community, have opposed the move. They fear that including Kurubas would dilute the existing 7% reservation quota for STs and reduce their share of benefits in jobs and education.
Governmental process: The state government initiated a fresh ethnographic study in 2024 to support the ST demand, but the final decision rests with the central government. The state government has indicated that to accommodate the Kurubas, the ST quota would need to be increased significantly.
Disputes over land and religious sites
The community has recently protested against instances of perceived injustice regarding property and religious sites.
Temple dispute: In January 2025, the Karnataka Pradesh Kurubara Sangha led a protest in Kalaburagi after a Tahsildar allegedly showed bias in a temple dispute between the Kuruba and Lingayat communities over the ownership of the Malingaraya temple.
College land allocation: In August 2024, the state government's decision to allocate 3.07 acres of land from a Kalaburagi government college to the Kuruba Sangha was condemned by student and academic groups. Critics argued that the land should have been used for educational infrastructure rather than a caste-based organization.
Socio-economic backwardness
Despite their significant population in the state, the Kuruba community continues to face socio-economic challenges, which are often cited by the Sangha to justify their demand for ST status.
Lack of educational infrastructure: Concerns have been raised about the lack of educational societies and cooperative societies for the Kuruba community compared to dominant castes like the Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
Marginalized livelihoods: Many Kurubas, traditionally dependent on pastoralism and agriculture, have been marginalized due to displacement from ancestral lands and adverse government policies. The Jenu Kuruba sub-group, in particular, has faced significant challenges following forced relocation.
Low literacy rates: Historical data indicates extremely low literacy rates for the community, though improvements have been marginal. This lack of education continues to hamper economic and social mobility.
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https://kurubarasangha.karnataka.in
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