Bangalore:
Lambanis or the Banjara population is 16 lakhs in Karnataka and about 1.75 crores in India Lambanis, which once produced a famous political leader V.P. Naik, Chief Minister of Maharashtra are probably the only all-India community speaking one language and having one single but colourful dress. Mostly agricultural labourers, they live in grinding poverty with hardly any education. There is not even a single, IAS or IPS officer from the community. In Karnataka recently KT Rathod, a former Minister, was made president of the State PCC (I). LR. Naik MP, another, leader is the president of their State level community association. The youth of the community have been for long complaining against the community leadership. Recently they met here and complained that the elders of the community have done nothing to help the youth. Lambanis may not be untouchables but they have been included in the SC list In Karnataka in AP, Orissa and Bihar they are classified as STs.
