New Delhi:  The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday approved the inclusion of the communities ‘Parivara’ and ‘Talawara’ in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Karnataka.

“This will fulfil the long term demand of ‘Parivara’ and Talawara’ communities for granting Scheduled Tribes status in Karnataka,” said an official statement, adding that members of these communities will now be eligible to get the ST certificate from the State and be eligible for all benefits meant for the ST in the State.

The Karnataka Government had recommended the two’s inclusion as synonyms of ‘Nayaka’ appearing at SI. No. 38 in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the State.

The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State or Union Territory is by a notified Order of the President, after consultation with the State Government / UT concerned. Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes can be made only through an amending Act of Parliament.       

Last week, in a bid to woo the Lingayats, a dominant community in the State, ahead of the Assembly elections, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to grant them the status of a separate religion.