Mangaluru: Community leaders of the Billava society have demanded that members be compulsorily entered as “Billava” in the caste column of the upcoming census. They stressed that the accurate identification of their population is crucial for fair allocation of government reservations and welfare schemes.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Mangaluru Press Club, Billava representatives pointed out that many temple worshippers are often categorized as priests, which creates confusion in population data. They explained that although people have long been writing their bari (lineage name) along with their personal names, only the entry of “Billava” under the caste section can ensure proper recognition of the community.
Referring to the Kantaraju Commission report, the leaders noted that both Billava and Pujari have been listed as separate groups among the state’s 26 recognized communities. However, due to overlapping identification, discrepancies remain. The report estimates the combined population at around 6 lakhs, but community leaders insist that the Billava population exceeds 8 lakhs in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts alone, with significant numbers also spread across Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Shivamogga, Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Dharwad.
Highlighting that all reservation policies are population-based, the leaders urged mandatory inclusion of “Billava” to reflect their actual strength. They stated that this resolution was unanimously taken by key organizations such as the Rashtriya Billavara Mahamandal, Akhil Bharat Billavara Union, and the administrative committees of Kudroli Gokarnanath Kshetra, Gejjegiri Kshetra, and Katapady Vishwanath Kshetra.
Prominent personalities including Dr. Rajashekar Kotian, Naveen D.D. Suvarna, Yaraj H. Somasundaram, Mahesh Anchan, Ravi Poojary Chilimbi, Satyajit Surathkal, H.M. Satish, B.N. Shankar Poojary, Harishchandra Amin, and Parameshwara Poojary were present at the meet, pledging to continue efforts for rightful recognition.