Protest in Bengaluru on March 5 over policies impacting women, farmers, labourers and senior citizens

Opposing the policies of the Centre and the government of Karnataka allegedly affecting women, farmers, labourers and senior citizens, the State Committee of the Akhila Bharat Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane (All India Democratic Women’s Association) would organise ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’ to stage a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on March 5.

Sanghatane members Padmini Kiranagi and Shanta Saradagi, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on March 1, said that the protest aims to draw attention to rural employment, women’s welfare, social security, and public services, which were being neglected by the government.

Ms. Kiranagai and Ms. Saradagi criticised the Central Government’s proposed VB G-Ram-G scheme, saying it undermines the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. They demanded restoration of MGNREGA in its original form, including 200 days of guaranteed work per year at a minimum wage of ₹600, and stated that recent changes in policies of the Central and State governments were reducing financial support for rural employment, affecting millions of labourers, women, farmers and senior citizens.

Raising concerns over increasing violence against women, Ms. Kiranagi urged for strict enforcement of laws and special legislation to prevent honour killings. They demanded a comprehensive probe by a special Investigation Team (SIT) into sexual assault, murder, and unnatural deaths reported in the temple town of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district.

Highlighting the growing burden of microfinance loans, the activists said women borrowers were often trapped in debt at interest rates as high as 25-30%, leading to harassment, sexual exploitation, and suicide. They urged the government to strictly regulate microfinance institutions and ensure proper implementation of laws to protect women.

The Sanghatane demanded that pensions under all State welfare schemes be increased to a minimum of ₹5,000 per month.

They urged the government to strengthen public health infrastructure, provide free healthcare facilities, and halt any plans to privatise the public health sector. They also called for improved food security measures, including easy access to ration cards and expansion of schemes such as Indira Canteens.