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Leaders of the Vokkaliga community have called upon all members to register their caste correctly in the upcoming state caste survey, emphasizing that accurate information will benefit future generations. A press conference organized by the Ramanagara Project Development Authority at the Vokkaliga Bhavan on Sunday highlighted the significance of full participation.
Speaking at the event, E.B. Chetan Kumar, president of the district Vokkaliga Sangha, urged community members to ensure the caste column in the survey explicitly mentions “Vokkaliga” and that, in the employment column, “agriculture” is recorded, reflecting the community’s traditional livelihood. He emphasized that sub-castes should not be entered separately.
Former legislator K. Raju, chairman of the District Guarantee Project Implementation Committee, noted that rural residents often lack awareness about official procedures. He stressed that every individual should record “Vokkaliga” in the caste column to prevent errors noted in previous commissions, including those led by Chinnaswamy and Kantaraju.
Several political leaders, including Union Minister H.D. Kike and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, have conveyed that proper caste registration could enable the Vokkaliga community to achieve greater political representation in the future. Shivakumar further added that caste registration must be prioritized over political rivalries to benefit the younger generation.
The press conference also highlighted land and employment issues. It was noted that a majority of Vokkaliga families lost land during the Devanahalli airport construction and are now employed in government services. Leaders reiterated that benefits under government schemes will not apply to those with incomes above ₹8 lakh. Other leaders present included former ZP president K. Ramesh, Bharati Cooperative Bank president K. Chandranna, and community figures Shankarananda, Nanjegowda, Biregowda, and Dr. K. Satish, among others.
