Karnataka hit by drastic rural funding cuts, says DyCM DK Shivakumar while launching e-swathu 2.0

At the Gandhi Grama Puraskara event, the Deputy Chief Minister criticised funding cuts to MGNREGA and Jal Jeevan Mission while launching the upgraded e-Swathu 2.0 platform.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed strong displeasure over what he described as the Centre’s “step-motherly attitude” toward the state’s flagship rural development programmes. Speaking at the Gandhi Grama Puraskara ceremony and during the launch of the upgraded e-Swathu 2.0 software at Vidhana Soudha’s Banquet Hall, he detailed large reductions in allocations for key schemes.

He pointed out that MGNREGA allocations to Karnataka have dropped sharply. In 2021, the state had approval for 14.65 crore person-days, which has now been reduced to 9 crore, amounting to a nearly 40% cut. Funding too has fallen significantly, from ₹5,910 crore in 2021 to ₹2,691 crore this year. He said these reductions directly affect rural families who depend on wage labour.

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On the Jal Jeevan Mission, the DCM noted that both Centre and State are required to contribute 45% each, with the remaining 10% raised from the public. While the Karnataka government allocated ₹3,700 crore last year, he stated that the Centre’s contribution for the current year is “zero” so far.

Providing a detailed breakup of the ₹25,000 crore Rural Development Department budget, he said:

– ₹12,000 crore is allotted to Jal Jeevan Mission
– ₹2,400 crore for MGNREGA
– ₹1,000 crore for rural roads
– ₹900 crore under the CM’s basic infrastructure programme

He also highlighted the implementation of the Kalyana Patha scheme in the Kalyana Karnataka region.

Launching e-Swathu 2.0, he urged citizens to use the platform to correct property records. All Gram Panchayat properties will be issued 11B accounts, and applicants will receive approvals within 15 days, available online and through Bapuji Kendras. He described property record correction as part of the government’s “sixth guarantee”, recalling similar land regularisation efforts during earlier Congress regimes.

Shivakumar shared examples from his political journey, narrating how MGNREGA had supported over 60-70 thousand households in his constituency by funding cattle sheds, poultry units, land-leveling, shelter homes, panchayat offices, parks and more. He said this extensive work once triggered multiple investigations by central agencies, but the programmes eventually earned his taluk a government award.

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Reflecting on grassroots leadership, he emphasised the significance of Panchayat institutions. Recalling leaders such as B.D. Jatti, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Nehru and Kengal Hanumanthaiah, he said rural governance had shaped many national figures. He encouraged Panchayat members to follow constitutional processes, quoting Mahatma Gandhi on using the mind to govern oneself and the heart to serve others.

The DCM added that Karnataka has 1.48 crore households, of which 53 lakh have completed e-Swathu records while 95 lakh remain pending. Under Minister Priyank Kharge, ₹1,272 crore has been collected as property tax, a figure he said the Prime Minister himself appreciated.

Calling the event historic, he stressed that the work done in people’s interest remains long after leaders are gone. He reminded elected representatives that opportunities are precious and must be used to create meaningful change.