• Dr. Narasimha Nagappa

Scheduled Tribes (STs, indigenous people) are one of the most marginalized communities in the political sphere. Political marginalization of STs due to historical injustices has compelled the Indian state to explore alternative means to ensure adequate representation for them by adopting a political reservation system. Political reservation has, therefore, become their primary means of political empowerment, wherein it has ensured the redistribution of political resources in favour of the marginalized communities. Against this backdrop, the article explores the location of tribal communities in the colonial political system and the reasons for their disproportionate representation, the nature and dynamics of ST reserved constituency and the effects of political reservation on these communities. Further, the article concludes by suggesting that the political reservation system has brought both hope and despair among the STs. The South Indian state of Karnataka, once princely states is rich in its Historic, Cultural and Anthropological Heritage. The Tribal Nayaka people represent only 6.95 of the population of the Karnataka state. There are as many as 51 Tribes notified by the Government of India living in Karnataka Extreme poverty and negligence over generations among the Nayakas has left them in poor state of health and nutrition. The Literacy rate is consistently lower than that of total population. Since recent years there is a demand among the Nayakas to increase the reservation to 7.5 in education and jobs. When extra reservation is given to the under privileged people other caste people will suffer. The reservation system in our country is not perfect. When caste inequalities end, then reservation among the Nayakas can be a tool for development.

Nayaka Community, Karnataka state, reserved constituency, political representation, Scheduled Tribes

"POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF SCHEDULE TRIBE (NAYAKA) IN KARNATAKA: PRESENT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no.e313-e319, August-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408429.pdf

"POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF SCHEDULE TRIBE (NAYAKA) IN KARNATAKA: PRESENT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no. ppe313-e319, August-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408429.pdf