The Karnataka government is actively working to significantly increase minimum wages for workers across the state, proposing new rates of Rs 19,000 at the taluk level, Rs 21,000 in district areas, and Rs 23,000 for Bengaluru. T.M. Shahid Thekkil, chairman of the Karnataka Minimum Wages Advisory Board and KPCC general secretary, made this announcement at a press briefing in the Mangaluru Press Club on Thursday, September 25, 2026.
The revision process has encountered judicial obstacles, Thekkil noted, with certain groups obtaining a court stay. Earlier state notifications for revised minimum wages in scheduled employments, varying by job category and zone, also faced legal challenges before the Karnataka High Court. Beyond wages, Thekkil urged BJP leaders to prioritize development over religious or emotional matters, calling for constructive Opposition feedback on state government projects. He criticized opposition parties for denouncing Congress's guarantee schemes initially, then implementing similar programs elsewhere.
The KPCC general secretary alleged Karnataka faces unjust treatment on GST revenue and gram panchayat grants, urging state BJP leaders to lobby the Union government for resolution. He welcomed the recent Cabinet meeting in Dakshina Kannada, praising the decision to declare Tulu a second additional administrative language and the approval of several coastal development projects.
Thekkil claimed Congress governments established projects like MRPL and Mangaluru International Airport, accusing BJP leaders of later taking credit for their sale or privatization. He criticized former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda for insufficient development in Dakshina Kannada during his tenure, extending this to several district BJP leaders. He contrasted Gowda's inability to hold a Cabinet meeting in Dakshina Kannada with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's recent session in Mangaluru, which secured numerous project approvals, showcasing the Congress government's commitment.
Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy chairman Sadananda Maje, along with party leaders Suresh Amai, Ramaiah,
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today