CM starts state tour from Basava Kalyan of Bidar
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar with members of Akka Pade at Basava Kalyan in Bidar district on Monday. | Photo credit: GOPICHAND T.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday embarked on his district tour from Basava Kalyana, Bidar, known for the Anubhava Mantapa (Parliament) of the 12th century social reformer Basavanna.
“I am very happy to start my district tour from Bidar and Kalaburagi districts — the land of Basava ideology and Sufi saints. I want to witness the political, cultural and administrative determination of the people of this region,” the chief minister said in a post on social media.
It may be noted that the Chief Minister spent most of his first 30 days in office meeting officials and representatives of various institutions and bodies at the state secretariat in Bengaluru. He has now embarked on a two-day tour of North Karnataka, where he will hold assessment meetings with officials besides assessing the impact of the drought.
Mr. Shivakumar said he deliberately chose Basava Kalyana, the land of Basavanna, equality and social reforms, as the starting point of his journey to assess the drought after assuming office as Chief Minister.
During his visit, Mr. Shivakumar said that the state government is committed to empowering women through welfare measures, leadership opportunities and self-defense initiatives, stating that no society can exist without women.”
Speaking at the Akka Pade self-defense and women empowerment demonstration program at Basava Mahamane, Mr. Shivakumar described women as the foundation of families and society.
“A woman is the eye of the family. Without women, none of us can survive as a society. A woman symbolizes courage, earth, hope, unity and light. Nari Shakti is the greatest strength of this nation,” he said.
The Chief Minister congratulated the members of Akka Pade, a women’s self-defense initiative spread across Karnataka under the leadership of Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar. He said the program was aimed at increasing the safety and confidence of women while encouraging them to actively participate in building a peaceful and united society.
Mr. Shivakumar said the Congress government has already introduced flagship programs like Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi to improve the lives of women and their families.
“Women have given us their support and strength. Now it is our responsibility to empower them further,” he said.
Announcing another initiative, the Chief Minister said that the government has issued orders to establish 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas across Karnataka. The organizations would provide a platform for young people, especially women, to showcase their organizational skills, culture and artistic talents while promoting secular values and social harmony at the grassroots level.
He urged women to pursue higher education, develop leadership skills and take leadership roles from gram panchayats to parliament.
“Leadership should not be limited to politics. Women should emerge as leaders in all fields and this government will stand firm with them,” he said.
He said he would later hold discussions with public representatives and senior officials in Kalaburagi to take stock of the drought situation in the Kalyana region of Karnataka.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Ministers Eshwar Khandre and Sharan Prakash Patil, Sagar Khandre, Bidar MP, MLA Rahim Khan and Vijay Singh, Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma, CEO Girish Badole, Akka Pade State Counselor Shaini Gunti and other dignitaries and public representatives.
Published – 06 Jul 2026 21:57 IST