Karnataka CM questions removal of Gandhi’s name from NREGA scheme

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar felicitated civic workers during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed displeasure over the Union government changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025: “When Gandhiji was killed, almost all the member states of the N-UNO (N-UN) under their flag. However, it is still unclear why the Union Government removed the name Gandhi from the employment guarantee system.

The Chief Minister asked, “What harm would there be in keeping Gandhiji’s name in the NREGA scheme?” He argued that the matter needed to be discussed in detail.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president BK Hariprasad felicitated civic workers during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the KPCC office in Bengaluru. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mr. Shivakumar was speaking at a ceremony held at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday after presenting Gandhi Seva Award-2026 and Gandhi Puraskar to 11 non-dependent villages in Koppal district.

“There are two ideologies in this country: one is a family that accepts Gandhi’s principles and the other is a group that opposes Gandhism. The nation is witnessing a conflict between the two. All of us who follow Gandhi’s principles belong to Gandhi’s family. Our government is following the path of his ideology,” Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, Woode P. Krishna, recipient of the Gandhi Seva Award, emphasized the need to convey Gandhi’s ideals to the younger generation and noted that there were systematic attempts to misinterpret the Mahatma.

A prize money of ₹ 5 lakh was donated to the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi.

“Gandhi Puraskara” was introduced to eleven villages in Koppal district who voluntarily gave up the sale of alcohol and “Gandhi Balaga” of Koppal, an organization working to preach Gandhian principles in rural areas.

The State Liquor Temperance Board commended villages including Hatti, Lebageri, Talakanakapura, Hanumanahalli, Kamanuru, Binnala and Chikkenakoppa in Kukanoor taluk and Madnala, Nagarala, Boduru Tanda and Hirebannigola in Kushtagi taluk for making the villages free from liquor sale. The prize pack included a ‘Charkha’ (spinning wheel) and a book.

RWF accepts the Swatchhata pledge

Managing Director Manoranjan Pradhan with other officers and employees of Rail Wheel Factory (RWF) celebrated Gandhi Jayanti by taking the Swatchhata pledge.

As part of Swatchhata Hi Seva Abhiyaan (SHS) 2026, Swatchhata Pakhwara is observed at RWF from 1st to 15th October. Various activities including shramadaan, health screening camps, intensive cleanliness drive at various places in the factory and colony premises, workshop on making dolls from waste cloth were held at RWF.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 21:50 IST