Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad addressing media persons in Yadgir on October 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Labour Minister Santosh S. Lad has said that around 1.30 crore labourers in the unorganised sectors in Karnataka will get benefits from the proposed cess collection of ₹1 on petrol and diesel.
Talking with mediapersons in Yadgir on October 15 after chairing a meeting with officials at the circuit house in Yadgir, Mr. Lad said that the department aims to provide more government benefits to the unorganised sectors using the ₹1 cess on petrol and diesel. “The proposal was sent to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and would be placed before the Cabinet for a discussion. “If the cabinet approves, labourers in the unorganised sectors will get benefits,” he added.
The Labour Department is going to distribute smart cards to 101 different varieties of labourers who are working in their hereditary professions. “₹1 lakh compensation will be given to family members of a labourer who dies or suffers permanent disabilities while on duty, and also ₹50,000 for hospital expenses.
Mr. Lad added that the labourers in the transport sector will get more benefits compared to other unorganised sectors. ₹5 lakh compensation on death and permanent disability will be given to family members. Labour Department officers are registering eligible beneficiaries. So far, 10 lakh labourers have registered.
The Minister said that action has been initiated to delete false construction labour membership cards. So far, 28 lakh such cards have been deleted. Around 13 lakh students from families of construction labourers have been given scholarships.
On alleged threat call to Minister Priyank Kharge
When asked about the threat calls to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge after he raised his voice against the RSS, Mr. Lad said that there is no surprise. “The people who had killed Mahatma Gandhi will threaten those who raise their voices against them. So far, I have not received any threat call. We are in public life. We should face such things,” he added.
He attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not improving the lifestyle of the people of Bihar despite being in power for 11 years. “The per capita income of Bihar is just ₹60,000.
“What was their (BJP and Mr. Kumar’s) contribution to the people of Bihar?”
He questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transferring ₹10,000 to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women in Bihar when the BJP has opposed the guarantee schemes in Karnataka.
The Labour Minister pointed out that the Central Government gave more preference to Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, where either the BJP or its ally is in power, and released more grants. As part of the Centre’s preference attitude, Andhra Pradesh is getting Google’s AI hub.
MLAs Channareddy Patil Tunnur and Raja Venugopal Naik, MLC Tippannapa Kamaknur and others were present.
Published – October 15, 2025 03:07 pm IST
