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VEERASHAIVA LINGAYAT / LINGABALIJA

Sri Shivarao Shettkar, the then President of Lingayat Federation presented a memorandum to the then Chairman and members of the A.P. Commission for Backward Classes on 09-05-1994 requesting for inclusion of Veerashaiva lingayat caste / community in the list of Backward Classes. are Lingayats or persons belonging to and following Veerashaiva religion. Historically this religion was found and propagated by Lord Basavaswara in 12 th century. The members of this religion compulsorily wear “ Linga” on their bodies. Veerashaiva Lingayats are also popularly called as Lingabalijas in Andhra Pradesh. The approximate population of Veerashaiva Lingayats is about 3.5 Lakhs. They are socially, educationally, economically and politically backward. Veerashaiva Lingayats were not allowed admission to colleges in Mysore State. The scholars refuse to teach Sanskrit to Veerashaiva Lingayats. They were looked down as even though they do not come within the Hindu hierarchy. The Bombay High Court had treated the Veerashaiva Lingayats as Shudras. Thus they remain socially backward. Their main occupation is agriculture, petty business, agricultural labour, oil pressing, hair cutting, cloth washing, pottering, blacksmithy, tailoring, weaving, carpentry, hawkers, shoe making and other occupations which have a social stigma attached to them. Due to social stigma they could not prosecute their studies. Majority of Veerashaiva Lingayats are uneducated. Their habitation is very backward and thus they are educationally backward. Most of the Veerashaiva Lingayats are below poverty line. Their income is very meager which resulted in migration to other areas. Thus they are economically backward. They occupy a low social position in the village and they could not get proper education and consequently they could not secure jobs. They are not adequately represented in Government jobs. There is no political representation. The Mandal Commission recognized Veerashaiva lingayat / Lingabalija community and included in the list of Backward Classes. The - 2 -

Government of also included this community in the list of Backward Classes. For the above said reasons, they requested for inclusion

Sri V.C.Thippanna, President of the Yemmiganur Veerashaiva Sangha also submitted a memorandum on 11-05-1994 making similar request. Several representations were submitted from Kadapa, Anantapur, , Karimnagar, Mahaboobnagar, Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Kurnool, Medak (mainly from Jogipet) districts and others also submitted representations for inclusion of their community in the list of Backward Classes on similar grounds from time to time.

Sri K. Konda Raju, Secretary, Andhra Veerashaiva Welfare Center, Vishakapatnam also submitted a memorandum dated 05-12-1997 to the then Chairman, Backward Classes Commission for inclusion of Veerashaiva lingayat caste in the list of Backward Classes.

After the Commission was reconstituted, a notification dated 03-01-2009 calling for representations, suggestions and objections was issued. The caste representatives submitted similar representations. Subsequently public hearing was conducted on 09-02-2009 and Sri Vijay Kumar Herur, Legal Advisor to A.P. Veerashaiva Lingayat Federation, S. Shantappa, advisor, P. Ramalinga Reddy, T. Koteshwar Rao and others appeared before the Commission and pleaded for inclusion.

The Commission deputed the survey team to conduct household sample survey to assess the social, educational, economic and political condition of those people. The Commission formulated a format which was adopted by the survey team and collected the particulars.

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ORIGIN OF THE COMMUNITY:

The survey team of the A.P. Commission for Backward classes comprising of Deputy Director (Statistics) and Asst. Statistical Officers has conducted random household survey in Ranga Reddy, Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Hyderabad and Nizamabad districts of Andhra Pradesh during February 2009. During the course of deliberations with the community elders, it has been noted that the nomenclature of the community has come into existence with the reformistic cannons created by one Sri Basaveswara of Karnataka region within Saivism. He is an exponent of “Dasoha” which mean, what belongs to must return to Him and what came from society should be given back to society by way of selfless service. The Lingayats/Lingabalijas invariably wear the ‘Ishtalinga’ arround their neck at all times. This is a replica of Lord Siva. The Istalinga is made up of light gray slate stone coated with fine durable thick black paste of cow dung ashes mixed with some suitable oil to withstand wear and tear. Sometimes it is made up of ashes mixed with pure butter. Thus, for the Lingayats it is an amorphous representation of God. Veerashaiva Lingayats / Lingabalija thus mean the wearer of Linga as Ishta Linga. Lingayats in principle do not partake non-vegetarian food.

Lingadharana is the ceremony of initiation of Siva aradhana among Lingayats. Though, it can be performed at any age, it is usually performed when a child is 3-8 days old. The child receives Istalinga from the family Guru that is worshipped until age 8 -11 years. Usually between the ages of 8 and 11 years, the child receives Diksha from the Guru. From then on, the child wears the Linga at all times for the remainder of his/her life and it is worshipped as their own Istalinga. The Linga is housed in a small silver wooden box and cloth. It is worn on the chest or around the body using a thread. Unlike other castes of permitting (sacred rope ceremony) to only males, this ceremony is for both men and women in presence of their revered Guru. This practice was - 4 - started by revolutionary Basaveswara being himself a Brahmin refused to undergo upanayana seeing the discrimination of women.

Among the many injunctions prescribed for the devout Lingayat, Dasoha is a very important one. created this as a protest against the feudalistic ideologies present at that time. He shunned the sharp hierarchial divisions that existed and sought to remove all distinctions between the hierarchially superior master class and the subordinate, servile class. Even though he himself served as a minister under the king, Bijjala, he pointed out that he worked only as a daasohi (Servent of GOD) or one who serves mankind. Dasoha to him meant working hard for one's livelihood and for the maintenance of society and in the service of God by doing well especially for the down trodden.

Since the origin of the community first was at Karnataka, it spread to all parts of the South India in course of time. The community people are now seen in the Districts bordering Karnataka like Anantapur, Mahaboobnagar, Ranga Reddy, Medak and Nizamabad Districts. There is no traditional occupation prescribed or practiced by the community as was stated by its community elders. Hence they are seen in almost all occupations according to individual skills.

DESIGN OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEY: Multi stage random household survey on Veerashaiva Lingayat / Lingabalija community was conducted during February 2009 in Rangareddy, Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Hyderabad and Nizamabad districts. A total of 252 households were selected by random method and surveyed of which the urban samples are of the order of 47 households only which comprises of 18.4% of the total households.

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SURVEY RESULTS

The total population covered by the survey is 958 of which the male constitute 484 persons and rests 474 are females. The sex ratio is recorded as 98 females per 100 males and the household size is recorded as 3.8 persons. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKWARDNESS

S.No Questions Answers No. % Household feeling on the caste 1 Inferior 135 53.6 Superiority/Inferiority Normal 117 46.4 Superior 0 Total 252 100.0 2 Whether the caste is looked down by the society Yes 141 56.0 No 111 44.0 Total 252 100.0 3 Whether the caste people are dwelling in discriminated locality Yes 112 44.4 No 140 55.6 Total 252 100.0 4 Whether is purchased for household purpose Yes 221 87.7 No 31 12.3 Total 252 100.0 5 Whether newspaper is purchased Yes 9 3.6 No 243 96.4 Total 252 100.0 6 Whether the household is living in a rented house or own house Rented 37 14.7 Own 215 85.3 Total 252 100.0 7 Average plinth area of the house is between 200 and 350 sq. ft. 8 Kind of house RCC 35 13.9 Tiled 162 64.3 Tiled / Tatched 55 21.8 - 6 -

Total 252 100.0 9 Provision of bathroom Yes 37 14.7 No 215 85.3 Total 252 100.0 10 Provision of individual sanitary latrines Yes 35 13.9 No 217 86.1 Total 252 100.0 Provision of drinking water tap within 11 premises Yes 88 34.9 No 164 65.1 Total 252 100.0 On an average 150 to 250 meters to be covered to fetch 12 How long to go to collect drinking water drinking water from bore/ tap points. 13 Whether the house is electrified Yes 234 92.9 No 18 7.1 Total 252 100.0 14 Fuel used for cooking purpose Gas 39 15.5 Purchased fire wood 14 5.6 Firewood by own 199 78.9 collection Total 252 100.0 15 Fan facility in home Yes 164 65.1 No 88 34.9 Total 252 100.0 16 Phone connectivity including cell phones Yes 45 17.9 No 207 82.1 Total 252 100.0 17 Ration cards No cards 11 4.4 White cards 187 74.2 Pink cards 54 21.4 Total 252 100.0 - 7 -

Did not come across any entity in 18 Political power of the community the survey 19 Appearance of the household members with regard to dress and footwear Poor appearance 204 81.0 Middle class appearance 48 19.0 Rich appearance 0 0.0 Total 252 100.0 20 Ornaments with precious metal observed Poorly bejeweled 210 83.3 Reasonable bejeweled 42 16.7 No jewelry 0 0.0 Total 252 100.0 21 Hygienic conditions of the surroundings of the household Slum 206 81.7 Middle class 46 18.3 Posh locality 0 0.0 Total 252 100.0 22 House holds take part in intoxication on certain social/religious occasion Yes 0 0.0 No 252 100.0 Total 252 100.0 23 Whether the community is discriminated in the local functions/festivals Yes 37 14.7 No 215 85.3 Total 252 100.0 24 Practice of Widow remarriages Yes 118 46.8 No 134 53.2 Total 252 100.0 25 Practice of child marriages Yes 174 69.0 No 78 31.0 Total 252 100.0 26 Feeling on disclosure of own caste among advanced caste people Feel shame to disclose 173 68.7 Do not feel shame to 79 31.3 disclose Total 252 100.0 27 Ability to resist atrocities by advance caste people - 8 -

Do not have Guts 217 86.1 Having guts 35 13.9 Total 252 100.0

The above table gives vivid picture of certain variables under social and economic aspects of backwardness, which is summed up as detailed below.

The community has some perceptible feeling of inferiority as 53.6% of households have expressed thus by virtue of the caste as compared to other advanced castes in their localities. About 56.0% of the households have indicated that they are looked down by the society. About 44% have expressed that they live in a discriminated localities like any other backward class community for reasons best known since ages. As regards purchase of newspaper a whooping 96% have expressed that they do not need to purchase for majority of them are illiterates and they do not have perception to read news. Almost all the village households are living in their own house with a plinth area between 200 and 350 sq.ft. mostly with single room or about 10% of the houses are equipped with a simple partition facility for the privacy of two couple. Again a large percentage with 86.0% of the houses is made of mud walls with tiled roofs / wild grass. Only 14% are RCC top mainly in urban areas. 85.0% of households are not having both bathrooms and individual sanitary latrines. About 65% of the households have no tap connections in their homes and they have to cover a distance of 150 to 250 meters to fetch bore water and in few cases tap water. Only 7% of households were not electrified. As much as 79% of households have reported that their means for cooking is firewood collected by themselves. In the age of telecommunication the usage of cell phones/land phones has become essential even for a common man in every walk of living. The community is availing only 18% and the rest 82% have no land phone / cell connectivity. They are indeed backward in the area of communication. About 74% of households are having white ration cards, 21% with pink cards and 4.4% - 9 - have no cards. During the survey, though the team did not come across a single Sarpanch or any other entity, it is informed that about a dozen Sarpanchs and the same number of MPTCs and a lone MLA are found in all with the Community in the political arena.

The appearance of rural male in general is seen with a dhoti on the lower part and the upper body is covered with muslin tailor made banians and the women folk are with very shabby sarees. Footwear is seen with very few cases. So also the general appearance of woman folk with ornaments is also observed as ‘poorly bejeweled’ with very minimum ornaments of precious metals. A large number of households with 82% are living in slum surroundings. It is interesting to note that none of households rejoice by intoxicating drinks like taddy/gudumba neither during festivities nor in household functions as they are strictly following the tenants of religion as preached by their guru “Mahatma Basaveswara”. Due to practicing lofty religious ideologies most of them have reported that they are not discriminated during functions and festivals in their neighborhood.

The Practice of widow remarriages among the community, 53% have reported ‘no’ and 47% with ‘yes’ answers. Rarely widow remarriages are conducted but the community in general dislikes the proposition due to its strict religious conventions. Most of the households have reported that the practice of child marriages was very common a generation ago which still is in practice as stray case among the community with 69%. On the feeling of shame in exposing their caste among advanced castes, again 69% have reported ‘yes’ as majority of then are doing all kinds of mean/ untidy professions which include casual labour, making leaf-plates, collection of paper and plastic wastes from house to house, cooks, vending on push cart etc. About 86% have reported that they do not have guts to repulse atrocities committed on them by the forward castes basically due to educational and economic backwardness. - 10 -

EDUCATION DETAILS OF THE COMMUNITY :

% to S.No. Description MALE FEMALE TOTAL Total 1 Children at the age group of 0 to 5 33 28 61 6.4

2 Never been to school 202 252 454 47.4 Upto primary level (half of them 3 147 121 268 28.0 illiterates) 4 Upto secondary level 64 72 136 14.2

5 Upto intermediate 17 12 29 3.0

6 Degree 5 3 8 0.8

7 PG 2 0 2 0.2

8 Professional courses 0 0 0 0.0

9 Total population of the community 468 488 958 100.0

As can be inferred from the above table, the illiterates constitute as high as 67.8% among the community. Among literates, 14.2% are upto secondary level, 3.0% Intermediate level, 0.8% Degree level and 0.2% Post Graduate level. Thus the community is suffering from educational backwardness and their share in Government or private employment naturally seen very meager.

DROPOUTS AT PRIMARY SCHOOL STAGE:

S.N o. MALE FEMALE TOTAL REASONS 1 49 63 112 a) To help family for augmentation of income (90%) (33%) (52%) (45.5%) b) Could not cope up with studies (10%)

The female dropout rate is high with 52% due to the fact that the community is availing the ready manpower to augment the family income for a - 11 - living. The overall dropout rate is recorded at 45.5% which should other wise be as low as possible due to implementation of compulsory education for this age group.

DROPOUTS AT SECONDARY SCHOOL STAGE: S. No. MALE FEMALE TOTAL REASONS 1 51 45 96 a) To help family for augmentation of income. (87%) (79.6%) (62.5%) (70.6%) b) Could not cope-up with studies (13%)

The dropout rate at the secondary school stage is very high with 80% in boys’ category and 63% in girls’ category and the total put together is 71%. The phenomenon shows that very less percentage is strolling to further education after secondary school stage. The community thus is very backward in educational aspect and this is the foremost cause for their insignificant share in government or private sector as salaried employees.

WORKERS AND NON WORKERS BY SEX

Workers Non workers Male Female Total Male Female Total

342 282 624 142 192 334

70.6% 59.5% 67.1% 29.4% 40.5% 32.9%

The work participation rate of the community among males is 70.6% while that of females is 59.5% and the total is 67.1% as against the state work participation rates of 56.2%, 35.1% and 45.8% respectively. Comparatively the work participation rates of the community are very high which indicates that the majority of the population is participating in labour oriented works for a living.

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ECONOMIC CLASSIFCATION OF WORKERS

No. of % to total % to population S. No. Type of manpower workers work force # Agricultural 1 361 57.9 44.2 labourers Non agricultural 2 102 16.3 12.5 labourers 3 Own agriculturists 96 15.3 11.8 Own 4 45 7.2 5.5 entrepreneurs State govt. 5 9 1.4 1.1 employees Central 6 government 0 0.0 0.0 employees Employees in 7 11 1.8 1.4 private organization TOTAL 624 100.0 76.4

# N.B. Population excludes 0 to 14 years of age (141 children)

From the above table it can be observed that majority of the workers are engaged as agricultural and non agricultural labourers with 74.2% over the labour force or 56.7% over total population followed by own agriculturists with 15.3% over working population or 11.8% over total population. Own account entrepreneurs constitute only 7.2% over work force. This category includes petty business by hawking sundry articles of daily household use. State government employees in the community constitute a meager 1.4% to the work force or 1.1% over population. This phenomenon does shows that they do not posses needed qualification to fit in the slots of government employment. Employees in private organization are also as low 1.8% over workers or 1.4% over population. Thus it can be understood that baring 15% own agriculturists, the rest of the categories are virtually in labour force.

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HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND PER CAPITA INCOME OF THE COMMUNITY

(in Rs.) S.No. DESCRIPTION RURAL URBAN TOTAL TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME OF 1 THE WORKERS OF THE 396240 333500 729740 HOUSEHOLDS SURVEYED PER CAPITA INCOME OF 2 780 2875 1169 WORKERS

PER CAPITA INCOME OF THE 3 509 1863 762 COMMUNITY

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS 4 387792 301816 689608 MONTHLY EXPENDITURE

PER CAPITA HOUSEHOLD 5 1892 6421 2737 MONTHLY EXPENDITURE

PER CAPITA MONTHLY 6 475 2141 720 EXPENDITURE

The per capita income of the households for rural areas is Rs.780 while that of urban households is Rs.2875 and the total put together is Rs.1169. The per capita income of the community is very low in rural areas with Rs. 509 while that of in urban areas is 1863 and the total is Rs.762. The per capita household expenditure for rural areas is Rs. 1892 while for urban areas is Rs. 6421 and rural urban put together is Rs.2737. The per capita expenditure estimated comes to Rs. 475 for rural areas, Rs. 2144 for urban areas and rural and urban put together is Rs. 720. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the National Sample Survey Organization, Government of India has brought out a publication on its 61 st Round survey viz. ‘Household consumer expenditure among socio economic groups 2004-05’ wherein it was indicated that the average MPCE (Monthly Per Capita Expenditure) for rural areas for all categories in Andhra Pradesh is Rs.585.55 as against the present communities per capita expenditure of Rs.475, which is 19% less than the state average. This - 14 - phenomenon does show that the community is eking out just hand to mouth livelihood.

EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE (RURAL)

(in Rs.) Income Clothin Educati Toilet Trans Entertai Total Savin Food Fuel Rent Medical Others total g on articles port nment Exp. gs 1466 1466 396240 237744 1070 32095 11887 30114 16246 1584 27730 387792 8448 1 1 % 60.0 3.7 0.3 8.1 3.0 7.6 4.1 3.7 0.4 7.0 97.9 2.1 share

EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE (URBAN) (in Rs.)

Income Clothin Educati Toilet Trans Entertai Total Savin Food Fuel Rent Medical Others total g on articles port nment Exp. gs 33350 11705 1934 5402 2034 30181 3168 13673 48691 6337 7670 4336 10338 0 8 3 7 3 6 4 % 35.1 5.8 16.2 4.1 14.6 1.9 2.3 6.1 1.3 3.1 90.5 9.5 share

In rural areas the expenditure on food items constitute 60%, for fuel 3.7%, for clothing 8.1%, on education 3%, on medical expenditure 7.6%, toilet articles 4.1%, transport 3.7% and on entertainment as low 0.4%. There is a saving of 2.1% on the income as recorded in the survey. The expenditure on medicines is on the higher side given the income limit of the rural community. In the urban sector the expenditure on food constitutes 35.1% followed by rent with 16.2%, on education 14.6%, on transport 6.1% and on fuel 5.8%. There is a saving of 9.5% over income as recorded in the urban sector.

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HOUSEHOLD PROPERTY AND INDEBTEDNESS ( in Rs.)

IMMOVABLE PROPERTY MOVABLE PROPERTY VALUE IN Rs. VALUE IN Rs. Bank Electric Balance Un Cattle/ Agri. Two TV, IRRG - House al Furnitu To / Irrigate House Sheap, implem Wheele VCR, TOTAL Land site applian re ols Money d Land etc. ents rs etc. etc. ces on hand 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

313104 123323 13046 250 5823876 894265 564569 251532 249100 85858 240069 38650 12645162 4 9 0 0

Contd… INDEBTEDNESS STATUS OF HOUSEHOLD Outstanding NET VALUE 14 15 8415090 4230072

(in Rs.) AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ASSET VALUE 50179

PER CAPITA VALUE OF HOUSEHOLD ASSETS 13199

TOTAL No. OF HOUSEHOLDS BORROWED DEBTS 167

% OF HOUSEHOLDS BORROWED DEBTS 66%

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD DEBTS 33393

PER CAPITA DEBTS OF THE COMMUNITY 8784

STATUS OF PER CAPITA HOUSEHOLD NET VALUE 16786

STATUS OF PER CAPITA NET VALUE OF THE 4415 COMMUNITY

In order to assess the per capita household asset value, per capita household debts, per capita debts of the community, necessary statistics has been collected and the results are as stated below.

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The average household assets value is estimated at Rs. 50,179 and the per capita household assets value is Rs. 13199. As much as 66% households have borrowed loans from a single source i.e. “money lenders”, for the community has no alternative source to get the loans for their varied purposes. The average household debts are estimated at Rs.33393 while the per capita debts are estimated at Rs.8784. Thus the community is under the grip of indebtedness. The per capita household net value is estimated at Rs.13199 while the per capita net value of the community is estimated as low as Rs.4415. This means, on an average, a person is having a net value of assets like house, house site, household articles, agricultural land, two wheelers, furniture etc., all put together Rs.4415 only.

PURPOSE FOR WHICH LOANS RAISED S.No. Description % 1 For medical expenses 36.3%

2 For household consumption 21.0% For repayment of outstanding debts and interest 3 26.2% payments 4 For agricultural inputs 16.5% 100.0 TOTAL : %

The reasons for the loans taken was analyzed and found that about 66% households have borrowed loans from moneylenders for various purposes. It is noticed that over 36% Loans were raised for medical expenses followed by 26.2% towards repayment of outstanding loans and interest payments, 21% for household consumption like marriage expenditure, cradle and death ceremonies etc., and lastly for purchase of agricultural inputs 16.5% has been recorded.

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SUMMERY FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY

Social aspect:- a) About 54% households have reported that, they feel inferior by their caste. b) About 56% households have stated that, they are looked down by the society around them. c) About 44% households have stated that, they are living in discriminated localities. d) Over 15% have reported that, their community is discriminated in the local functions and festivals by advanced community people but majority have stated that due to their strict adherence of religious rules they are generally not discriminated in functions.

e) Practice of widow remarriages is prevalent in the community. f) Practice of child marriages is prevalent in the community. g) About 69% have reported that feel shame to be identified with their community name.

h) Over 86% of the households have reported that, they do not report to Govt. in case of atrocities committed on them by advanced caste people for fear of persecution. i) The community monolithic and it’s strict rules does not permit marriage alliance with any other Hindu community.

Educational aspect:- a) Illiteracy among community people is recorded as 68% as against the State illiteracy rate of 40%. b) The community people studied upto secondary education level is only 14%. c) The community people studied upto intermediate level is only 3%. d) Dropouts in primary education are recorded at 45.5%, out of which the female dropout rate is as high as 52%. - 18 -

e) The dropout rate at secondary education level is very high at 70.6%. This mean the community is not progressive beyond secondary level of education among their children.

Economic aspect:- a) The work participation rate of the community is recorded as 70.6% among male, 59.5% female, male and female put together is at 67% as against the State work participation rates of 56.2%, 35.1% and 45.8% of that order. b) The agricultural labourers and non agricultural labourers together accounted for 74.2%. This mean a large chunk of work force are labourers. c) The community share of employment in Govt. sectors among its workers is as low as 1.4%. d) The community share of employment in Private sector is again as low as 1.8%. e) The per capita income of the community for rural areas is Rs. 509/- for urban areas is Rs. 1863/- and for both rural and urban areas is Rs. 762/-. f) The per capita expenditure of the community for rural areas is Rs.498/- for urban areas is Rs.1686/- and for both rural and urban areas is Rs.720/-. g) The per capita rural indebtedness of community is recorded at Rs.8784/- and per household indebtedness is recorded at Rs.16,786/-. h) The per capita availability lands both under irrigated / un-irrigated categories are as low as 0.25 acres.

Political aspect:- a) Though the survey team did not come across not even Sarpanch among the surveyed households survey, it was reported that they have an MLA and about a dozen Sarpanches and MPTCS for community as whole. - 19 -

Status of the community in other states: a) In Karnataka State the community is listed as Backward Caste at Sl no:1 (a) under Annexure, Category III (b) vide GO No:SWD 150 BCA 94 Dated:17-09-1994.

b) In Maharastra state the community is listed as Backward Class with a synonym “Lingayat teli” and listed at Sl No: 181 vide GO.No:CBC 10/2006 , Dated 25-05-2006.

With the given details, there is no doubt that the Veerashaiva Lingayats/ Lingabalija community of Ranga Reddy, Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Hyderabad and Nizamabad districts are socially, educationally, economically and politically as backward as any other listed Backward Classes in all respects.

The Commission carefully considered the oral and written representations and the material collected together with the statistical reports came to the conclusion that Veerashaiva Lingayat / Lingabalija caste / community is socially and educationally backward for the purpose of Articles 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the Constitution of India and they are fit to included in the list of Backward Classes under Group – D at Sl. No. 47.

1. Justice Dalava Subrahmanyam, Chairman

2. Sri V. Krishna Mohan Rao, Member

3. Sri N. Bangara Raju, Member Secretary