In Karnataka, a fundamental question of identity is leaving hundreds of orphaned children in a bureaucratic limbo, stalling their future. The issue revolves around the caste status of children with no known parentage, who are being raised in state-run homes. Without a documented caste, these children are systematically excluded from scholarships, educational reservations, and eventually, job opportunities tied to welfare schemes.
The Identity Grey Zone for Parentless Children
For most Indians, caste is an inherited identity, meticulously recorded from birth in official documents. However, this system fails children who have no known parents or family history. With no records, lineage, or even a surname to claim, they inhabit a grey zone. Yet, the system persistently demands an answer: Which caste do they belong to? This unresolved question shadows them through classrooms, scholarship forms, hostel admissions, and finally, the job market.
While numerous state government welfare programs are contingent on caste certification, orphaned children remain in a perpetual wait. They are caught between rigid paperwork and policy, their prospects hindered by a label they never inherited. Confronted with this dilemma, the Women and Child Development Department, responsible for their care, is pushing for a policy intervention to secure their rights.
Scale of the Problem and Government's Push
Department sources reveal that approximately 300 orphaned children across three age groups—from newborns to 15-year-olds—are housed in various homes under the Directorate of Child Protection. The department manages 76 children's homes, including 38 for boys, 36 for girls, and one Shishu Mandira for children below six years.
A senior official provided a detailed breakdown: "There are around 25 children at the Shishu Mandira (below 5 years), followed by 76 in the 5-10 age group and about 199 aged 10-15 years." Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi R Hebbalkar plainly stated the core issue: "We do not have any proof of caste for these children who are enrolled in our children's homes."
The Bureaucratic Journey for a Solution
The department first flagged the issue to the Chief Secretary in October 2024. The matter was discussed at the state-level child welfare committee, which decided to approach the Social Welfare Department. The request was to extend all benefits and facilities given to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to these orphaned children. However, the Social Welfare Department refused.
Undeterred, the department then approached the Backward Classes Department. In September 2025, they wrote a formal letter with a two-pronged request: to issue caste certificates for these children and to grant them a 1% reservation at all levels under Category-1 by including all of them in that category. Minister Hebbalkar explained the current status: "The department has referred our proposal to the Backward Classes Commission for review, and we are now awaiting its response."
The outcome of this review will determine whether these 300 children can step out of the shadow of an undefined identity and access the benefits that could shape their futures.
