'Caste differences can be reduced if lower castes have access to more wealth'

Nayana Motamma, a first time MLA from Mudigere constituency in the heart of Karnataka’s coffee county Chikmagalur has been a flag bearer of Dalit identity.

She switched from corporate law to politics in 2015. Her mother Motamma, who was also an MLA from Mudigere, had the same vision and advocated the welfare of marginalized communities, including Dalits.

In an interview with News Trail's Rithu Dravid, the MLA says that as a politician and a people’s representative, she can touch numerous lives. Here are excerpts. 

Does it help in politics to be the daughter of a politician?

You get easily recognized but there could be as many expectations as well. As it is a patriarchal society and I am the daughter of my mother, it has been a bit of a challenge.

We need votes, we have the recognition but at the end of the day it’s your own struggle.

You are a multifaceted person, what are your priorities as a woman, a Dalit, a lawyer and a people's representative?

I am a lawyer and used to work in a law firm. No doubt a mother and a wife too. I was also an entrepreneur for a start-up which was a multi designer store.

But I took up politics in 2015 and thereon did it full time and wanted to establish myself politically and contest elections. I was looking for a constituency for an opportunity and it came along.

I asked for a ticket to contest even in 2018 but they gave it to my mother. I started working in the constituency and kept focus on the 2023 elections. I always wanted to do effective politics as I thought it would be soul satisfying.

You are from the corporate world. Now as an MLA how do you fit into a rural constituency?

I think it came to me easily because I came with that background. I was brought up in Mudigere and spent a significant part of my childhood there.

My grandparents and my mother worked in coffee estates as labourers. I need to inspire people to get out of that rural mould and come out to the cities, find better jobs, earn better income, get to good positions and provide better livelihood to their parents and elders.

20 percent of Karnataka’s population are SC/STs. Have they got adequate representation in the cabinet? Are there enough Dalit MLAs?

Yes, I think so. Our government has done pretty well in that aspect. The one thing that I truly admire about the Congress is the commitment they have towards the OBCs, SC, and STs.

Are there instances of caste oppression in Karnataka like Tamil Nadu? If yes, how are we tackling it?

No, not at all. I think what we face is economic disparity between upper and lower castes. So if we can bridge the economic difference a bit, I think to a large extent the social status will also improve.

Caste differences can be reduced if the lower castes can also have access to much more wealth. We need to provide better jobs, nutritious food, housing, sanitation, affordable health care and education to the weaker sections.

What are the issues faced by coffee planters in Mudigere?

Right now it is more about encroachment. A large area of the Western Ghats is in the forest area.

No one can encroach upon forest land. However, people have encroached on forest land and developed it. Only some parts of forest land under five acres have been approved.

This is why coffee planters face a huge issue. Going forward I think we need to get very good value for our coffee production. I think the world needs to recognize coffee from India.

Do you think prominent Dalit leader Mallikarjun Kharge will make a fine PM?

Of course he will make a fine PM. Look at his performance as a leader of the opposition. His ability to take along all the leaders of the opposition says it all. He is a seasoned politician.

Is the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill good for India or does it appear to be like an election jhumla?

If it gets implemented it is obviously going to be effective but it is yet to become a law. As reservation is dependent on delimitation, a caste census is a must.

The next census will happen only in 2031. It appears that there is a lack of political will to implement it. Seems like a jhumla!

How easy is it for women politicians to come up in politics?

Women face challenges all over not only in politics. But since politics is basically public life, one needs to be thick skinned. We need to be prepared to face public scrutiny and deal with it.

This is a thing that I faced largely and