One-third of Karnataka colleges are run by Lingayats. Here's is how it will affect you if they get minority status  

Lingayats running the educational institutions will be exempted from many compulsions and the community people will get 50 percent reservation in these schools and colleges
Experts opine that there are more schemes for minority communities than backward class people
Experts opine that there are more schemes for minority communities than backward class people

If the 'minority' status is given to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats, they are likely to be benefitted by 25 various schemes that come under the minority welfare department. At present they belong to the backward class.

Lingayats running the educational institutions will be exempted from many compulsions and the community people will get 50 percent reservation in these schools and colleges. Many big educational institutions, including Karnataka Lingayath Education, JSS educational institutions and Siddaganga institutions are run by the Lingayats in the state.

"At least one-third of the schools and colleges in Karnataka are run by Lingayats. Once we get Lingayat status officially, these educational institutions (schools) will be exempted from Right to Education Act, whereas in professional courses, 50 percent of the seats in engineering, medical and dental colleges will be reserved for students from Lingayat community,'' said retired IAS officer S M Jamdar, who was on the core team that was demanding minority status for Lingayats.

In Karnataka, as per 2011 census, the minority population was 96,00,475 which is 15.92 percent of the state's total population. At present six communities enjoy minority status, including Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists. Jains were the latest to be given minority status in 2014.

There is a provision for separate fund allocation for the minorities. In 2017-18, the state government had allotted Rs 2,750 crore for various schemes, including Swavalamban (financial aid to improve their business), Arivu (financial aid for education),  site purchase scheme (up to one lakh will be reimbursed) and many more.

According to Mohammed Mohisin, secretary, minority department, there are around 25 schemes run by the state government for the minority community. They cover different sectors ranging from education to skill development and from self-employment to housing. "There are more schemes for minority communities than backward class people,'' he said.

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