Karnataka considering proposal for Muslim quota in government tenders

Bengaluru: The Siddaramaiah administration is examining a proposal to provide reservation to Muslims in public contracts for construction (civil) works up to Rs 1 crore. 

If the proposal is greenlighted, Karnataka will have a 47 per cent quota in government tenders.

Politically, this is being seen as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s push to consolidate the Ahinda (minorities, backward classes and Dalits) grouping. But a senior official said the government is positioning this as a move to empower these communities whose contractors are not well represented.

At present, Karnataka has reservation in civil works contracts for SC/STs (24 per cent) and OBC contractors belonging to Category-1 (4 per cent) and Category-2A (15 per cent). All of these total up to 43 per cent. 

The demand to add Muslims under Category-2B with a reservation of 4 per cent is being examined, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, adding: “No decision has been made yet.”

During his first term in office, Siddaramaiah introduced reservation in contracts for SC/STs and earlier this year, two OBC categories got the same benefit.

Besta, Uppara and Dalit Christians are among 95 communities that come under Category-1; under Category-2A, there are Kurubas, Idigas and 100 other communities (Siddaramaiah is a Kuruba). 

The government’s move to extend reservation in contracts to Categories 1 and 2A is said to have irked other contractors, especially the Vokkaligas and Lingayats. They are mounting pressure on the Karnataka State Contractors Association to convene a meeting and raise the matter with the government. 

Randomisation

Reservation in contracts for SC/STs and two categories of OBCs will be implemented through a roster-based randomisation, according to an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) L K Atheeq. 

According to the order, an engineering division or the tender inviting authority will be considered as a unit. “When there are more than four works, they will be randomised and allotted based on the government’s roster system,” the order states.

For example, if there are four works, contractors belonging to SC, ST, Category-1 and Category-2A will get one each randomly. 

New demand

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State SC/ST Contractors Association has asked Siddaramaiah to enhance the reservation limit in tenders from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. The departments of social welfare and public works are said to have already agreed to this. Even this is under examination, sources in the finance department said.