Karnataka Cabinet Approves Major Policy Changes: Free Rice Replaced with Indira Food Kit, Menstrual Leave for Women Employees, and Boost for Farmers
In a significant decision that could reshape Karnataka’s welfare and development landscape, the state cabinet has approved several key measures, including replacing the Anna Bhagya scheme’s free rice distribution with the “Indira Food Kit”, introducing menstrual leave for women employees, and approving multiple projects for agriculture and IT development across the state.
🔹 End of 5 kg Free Rice: The Beginning of “Indira Food Kit”
The Anna Bhagya scheme has been one of the hallmark welfare programs in Karnataka, providing 5 kg of free rice per month to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. However, the cabinet has now decided to stop the direct distribution of rice and replace it with a nutritionally balanced food kit called the Indira Food Kit.
The Indira Kit will include:
- 1 kg of boiled rice
- 1 kg of toor dal (pigeon peas)
- 1 kg of cooking oil
- 1 kg of sugar
- 1 kg of salt
This combination aims to ensure a balanced nutritional intake for families who earlier relied mainly on rice. The kit will also include other essential groceries depending on procurement feasibility.
The decision was taken after considering the rising cost of rice procurement and logistics, as well as the need to offer varied nutrition instead of a single-grain diet.
Minister Patil clarified that although this move could slightly increase the government’s expenditure, it would ensure better food diversity and overall health for the beneficiaries.
The distribution of these kits will begin once the tender process is finalized. Each kit will approximately match the monetary value of the earlier 5 kg rice benefit, ensuring that the economic assistance to BPL families remains constant.
🔹 Agricultural Sector Strengthening: ₹200 Crore Support for Seeds and Fertilizers
The Karnataka government has also focused heavily on agricultural development in its latest cabinet meeting.
To ensure that farmers get timely access to essential inputs, the government has approved a ₹200 crore loan guarantee for the Karnataka State Seed Corporation. This will help maintain sufficient stock of fertilizers and seeds required for the 2025–26 farming season.
Additionally, under the Krishi Sancheelana Yojana, new agricultural projects worth ₹90 crore will be launched across 15 taluks.
These initiatives aim to improve irrigation, soil quality, and farm productivity, supporting both small and medium-scale farmers.
The government’s clear focus is to strengthen the state’s rural economy, boost agricultural employment, and improve self-sufficiency in food production.
🔹 Historic Step for Women Employees: Paid Menstrual Leave Introduced
In a groundbreaking and progressive move, the Karnataka cabinet has approved a menstrual leave policy for women employees working in the state sector.
As per the decision, one day of paid leave will be granted to women employees during their menstrual period each month.
This is the first time in Karnataka’s history that such a gender-sensitive policy has been implemented.
The move is expected to set a precedent for private organizations and other states, encouraging them to adopt similar policies that support women’s health and dignity in the workplace.
Along with this, the cabinet has also given post-facto approval to the earlier decision that extended the age relaxation for government recruitment by three years. This comes as a relief to thousands of aspirants who were affected by delays in recruitment drives.
🔹 IT Development: New IT Park in Mangaluru
The cabinet also approved a major Information Technology (IT) Park project to be developed in Devarabail, Mangaluru under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
With an estimated investment of ₹135 crore, the IT Park will cover an area of 3,52,156 square feet and is expected to generate thousands of new jobs in the coastal region.
This project aligns with the government’s goal of decentralizing IT growth beyond Bengaluru, enabling Mangaluru and other tier-2 cities to become tech innovation hubs in the coming years.
🔹 Tourism Promotion: Eco-Tourism Project at Tataguni Estate
To boost tourism and environmental awareness, the cabinet has also cleared an eco-tourism project at the historic Tataguni Estate located near Bengaluru Rural district.
This ₹99 crore project will transform the area into a sustainable tourist destination that preserves natural resources while promoting local livelihoods through eco-friendly tourism.
Officials mentioned that this initiative will increase rural tourism, generate local employment, and help maintain Karnataka’s ecological balance.
🔹 Forest Land Reclamation at Machonahalli
The meeting also discussed the recovery of forest lands that were earlier allotted to various institutions in Machonahalli village, located in Bengaluru North district.
A joint survey report will be prepared before making the final decision on reclaiming the land for environmental conservation and community use.
🔹 Government’s Holistic Vision
The decisions made in this cabinet meeting highlight the government’s broader vision of social welfare, gender equality, agricultural progress, and sustainable development.
By replacing rice with a food kit, the administration aims to promote nutrition security rather than just food quantity.
Through the menstrual leave policy, it seeks to empower women and make workplaces more inclusive.
And with new investments in IT, tourism, and agriculture, Karnataka continues to strengthen its economic and environmental foundation for the future.
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Conclusion
The Indira Food Kit marks the beginning of a new welfare era, balancing nutrition with dignity for BPL families.
Similarly, the menstrual leave policy represents a step forward for gender equality in the workforce.
Alongside these, the IT Park, eco-tourism, and agriculture projects underline the state’s multi-sectoral growth agenda.
These policy changes together represent Karnataka’s commitment to inclusive progress — where welfare, employment, and development go hand in hand.
