Bengaluru: The Justice H N Nagamohan Das Commission on internal reservation has revealed that nearly three-fourths of Scheduled Caste (SC) members in Karnataka still face untouchability, with the Madiga community bearing the heaviest impact. The survey recorded 7.59 lakh Madiga households reporting discrimination, followed by Holeya (6.53 lakh), Lambani/Banjara (3 lakh), and Bhovi (2.48 lakh) families.
The report notes a disturbing rise in atrocities, including violence against SC women, mass assaults, and incidents as extreme as forcing victims to consume human waste. Among 101 SC castes, 15 communities experienced severe social discrimination, 28 moderate, 38 minimal, and 22 reported none. Two categories were marked as ‘unknown’ or ‘non-SC’.
The methods of exclusion include barring temple entry, denying participation in community feasts, prohibiting access to public spaces, bonded labour, segregated seating, separate utensils for drinking water, and even sexual violence. Over the past five years, 8,884 atrocity cases have been recorded (2020–21 to 2024–25). The Adi Karnataka group filed the most complaints (3,069), followed by Madiga, Holeya, Lambani, Bhovi, Adi Dravida, Chalavadi, Korma, Moger, and Chamar communities.
Interestingly, 45 castes did not register any cases during this period. The report clarifies this does not imply absence of discrimination, but rather a lack of empowerment, legal awareness, and social security to raise their voices. Economic dependence and fear of entrenched social structures prevent many from challenging such injustices.