Inclusive development of minorities in Karnataka

Available literature by researchers, committees and commissions established the fact that the minorities of Karnataka are economically an excluded lot—excluded from income generating resources, educational opportunities and political space. Notwithstanding the efforts put in by the State, NGOs and persons of concern to promote development among minorities, the situation has not substantially improved. In the final analysis, the paper holds that it is the role of individual members of these communities which will upscale their social and economic development and thereby promote inclusive development. By way of identifying the strategies of development of minorities, he examines the development efforts of various religious groups and, based on this, suggests that members of minority communities need to be progressive like Sikhs and Brahmins, honest and dedicated like Kakas and Labbayets, generate savings from their present occupation and invest the same in profitable enterprises or income earning assets like the dominant communities, and above all put in hard and sincere work like Marvaries, Kakas and Labbayets. Ultimately, it is these qualities of the individuals which will take them on to a higher level of development with support from State, NGOs, community members and persons of concern.