Famous people from Banjara Community Mr. K.T.Rathod, Minister (1972) and KPCC president (1981) in Karnataka state

Sri. K.T. Rathod was born in a small village Benal in Basavanbaggewadi Taluka of Bijapur District. Benal Village got submerged during the construction of Almatti Dam. The village got relocated by the Government of Karnataka and at present is situated at NH 13 after Nidagundi village. Born in a poor family Sri. K.T. Rathod studied with great hardship and difficulties and got his B.Com degree from Karnataka University Dharwad. He joined as an official in the Finance Department of Government of Karnataka in 1957. He completed his masters in Arts and LL.B. while in service. He married Smt. Ashadevi Rathod, Daughter of Late. Sri. Gopaldev Jadhav from Bhedsur Tanda in Chittapur Taluka of Gulbarga District in the year 1959.  They have four Children Sri. Prakash Rathod, Smt. Shobha, Sri. Vijay Rathod and Smt. Tejashwini.

After completing his law degree Sri. K.T. Rathod resigned from the four walled Government job and started practicing at Bijapur and also at The High Court of Karnataka Bangalore and simultaneously started social work.

Recognizing his abilities Smt. Indira Gandhiji fielded him from the Bijapur Assembly constituency in 1972, and he got elected and was sworn in as the Minister of state for fisheries under late Sri. Devraj Urs's Ministry. His good work further earned him the additional charge of Horticulture in 1974 and in 1976 he was promoted to cabinet rank and got the portfolio of Social Welfare. K.T. Rathod was the first Lambani representative in the State Ministry (1972), and credit should go to the then Chief Minister, the late D. Devaraj Urs. As a Minister, K.T. Rathod ensured that the Lambanis from Mumbai Karnataka were included in the list of Scheduled Castes. Having been an able organizer Sri. K.T. Rathod was made the President of KPCC in 1981. Unfortunately he had a massive paralytic attack in 1987 and was bedridden for nearly 10 years and passed away in 1993.