Thangadagi seeks ‘Bhovi-Vaddar’ caste certificates to curb misuse

Bengaluru: Minister for Kannada and Culture and Backward Classes Welfare Shivraj S. Thangadagi has directed officials to issue caste certificates specifically mentioning “Bhovi-Vaddar” for members of the Bhovi community in an effort to prevent the alleged misuse of reservation benefits through fake caste certificates.

The minister issued the direction during a meeting chaired by Social Welfare Minister K.H. Muniyappa to discuss various issues concerning the Bhovi community. Community leaders informed the meeting that in parts of southern Karnataka, including Udupi and four to five other districts, some individuals from the Boyi (Besta) community were allegedly obtaining caste certificates as “Bhovi” instead of “Boyi” to avail educational and employment reservation benefits meant for the Bhovi community.

Thangadagi said the distinction between the two communities should be clearly reflected in official caste certificates to prevent fraudulent claims. “The Bhovi community has traditionally been associated with occupations such as stone cutting, excavation, digging tanks and wells, and construction-related labour. The Boyi or Besta community has traditionally been engaged in fishing, boating and palanquin carrying and belongs to the backward classes category. Both communities deserve the benefits legally entitled to them, but no one should misuse another community’s reservation through fake certificates,” he said.

He instructed officials to consider issuing certificates with the designation ‘Bhovi-Vaddar’ to clearly establish the community identity and help curb the issuance of fraudulent caste certificates. During the meeting, Thangadagi also appealed for the construction of a Siddarameshwara Bhovi Bhavan for the Bhovi community on the lines of Ambedkar Bhavans and Babu Jagjivan Ram community halls established for other communities by the Social Welfare Department.

Responding positively, Social Welfare Minister K.H. Muniyappa assured that community halls equipped with libraries and training centres would be constructed in 10 district headquarters across the State. Another issue raised during the meeting was the absence of a roster system in educational opportunities similar to the one followed in direct recruitment. Bhovi community representatives said the lack of such a mechanism was affecting their access to educational reservations. Muniyappa assured the delegation that the matter would be examined and appropriate action would be initiated within a week to address the concern.Officials from the Social Welfare Department and Backward Classes Welfare Department, along with leaders of the Bhovi community and other representatives, were present at the meeting.