Rons Bantwal
Mangaluru, May 29: Alleging that the Bunt community has suffered a major setback in education, employment and social advancement due to its classification under Category 3(B) in the State reservation list, Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathru Sangha president K Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi on Thursday demanded corrective measures to ensure the community receives its rightful reservation benefits.
Speaking at the 105th annual general body meeting of Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathru Sangha (R) held at the Smt S.M Shetty Auditorium near Bunts Hostel in Mangaluru, Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi said the community has not been included in the central government reservation list despite being eligible for inclusion under Category 2(A) in the State reservation structure.
“Though the Bunt community qualifies for inclusion under Category 2(A), it has been placed under Category 3(B), resulting in the community being deprived of several opportunities and benefits in education, employment, social welfare and political representation,” he said.
Inaugurating the annual general body meeting for 2024-25, he announced that the organisation has initiated efforts to collect comprehensive data and documentation to strengthen the demand for inclusion of the Bunt community in the Central reservation list and for shifting the community from Category 3(B) to Category 2(A) in Karnataka’s reservation framework.
Highlighting a major community initiative, Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi said the organisation is preparing a global database titled “Bandhavya” aimed at compiling detailed information about Bunts settled across the world. The proposed “Global Bunt Information Bank” will document the cultural, social, economic, educational, professional, marital, health, housing, religious and overall living conditions of the community.
“The project is intended to place the real condition of the Bunt community before the government through authentic data and create a meaningful long-term impact,” he said.
He added that once completed, the digital information bank would enable members of the community living in different parts of the world to access comprehensive details about fellow Bunts through social media and online platforms.
Tracing the history of the organisation, he said Buntara Mathru Sangha was founded in Mangaluru 118 years ago under the guidance of visionary elders. At a time when transport facilities were almost non-existent, community leaders had united Bunts from Kasaragod to Byndoor and established educational institutions in rented premises to support children’s education.
“Times have changed and the community has consistently adapted itself by giving greater importance to education,” he observed.
During the meeting, general secretary K M Shetty presented the proceedings of the 2023-24 annual general body meeting and the annual report for 2024-25. Treasurer CA Ram Mohan Rai tabled the annual financial statements for 2024-25.
Annual reports of students’ hostels, educational institutions and taluk committees were also presented.
CA Dayacharan Shetty was reappointed as auditor for the year 2025-26. Vice-president Kavu Hemanath Shetty and joint secretary Sanjeeva Shetty Sampigedi were present.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Kavu Hemanath Shetty, while Dr Manjula Shetty compered the programme.