A file photo of women waiting to board a BMTC bus.
A war of words broke out between the ruling Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members in the Karnataka Legislative Council over the State government’s guarantee schemes, with former Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti alleging that the programmes had contributed to a shortage of farm labourers in rural areas.
Participating in a discussion on the drought situation on Thursday, Mr. Horatti said, “I rear 80 cows, cultivate fodder on 10 acres, and supply milk to a dairy every day. But after the guarantee schemes were introduced, there is nobody to water the cattle or supply milk to the dairy.”
He said cotton growers in his region were also struggling to find workers to harvest their crop. “The cotton is ready in the fields, but there are no workers to pick it,” he said.
‘Don’t leave youth idle’
Referring to the Yuva Nidhi scheme, Mr. Horatti claimed providing financial assistance to unemployed youth without adequate opportunities for engagement could discourage them from taking up work.
“If responsibility is not given to the youth, they could take the wrong path and spend their time idling,” he said.
‘Not charity’
His remarks led to heated exchanges between the Opposition and the Treasury Benches. Congress members, including Nagaraj Yadav, intervened to defend the government’s welfare programmes. They said the ₹2,000 assistance provided to the woman head of a family under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme was not charity but a measure intended to provide financial security.
Congress members also said similar welfare measures had subsequently been adopted in several other States despite earlier criticism of such schemes.
Review free schemes
Mr. Horatti, while defending his criticism, said free bus travel should primarily benefit poor women and questioned the need to extend such benefits to those who could afford them.
He also called for the withdrawal of free benefits extended to Ministers, legislators, and IAS officers.
In view of the drought, he urged the government to strengthen Indira Canteens to ensure access to affordable food for people affected by the crisis.
Minister challenges Opposition
Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had already directed the government to examine and revise the guarantee schemes where necessary.
He challenged the Opposition to demand that the schemes be discontinued if it believed they were not required.
Mr. Horatti clarified that he was not seeking an end to the guarantee programmes but wanted the government to address shortcomings in their implementation.
Published – September 24, 2026 07:20 pm IST
