Karnataka cabinet approves one-day menstrual leave for women across sectors

The Karnataka government on Thursday approved a one-day menstrual leave for women working in various sectors, including garments and information technology, the government said.

“The cabinet today approved at least one day off for women working in various sectors, from garments to information technology,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil told reporters after the meeting.

The cabinet also approved several major proposals in the labor, infrastructure, urban development, education, social protection and tourism sectors.

It approved the Karnataka Labor Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which enhances financial assistance under six existing labor welfare schemes, including education incentives for organized workers and their dependents.

In the area of ​​infrastructure development, the government has approved reconstruction and rehabilitation of 39 major bridges at an estimated cost of ₹1,000 crore in the first phase.

It also approved the purchase of an aerial ladder platform vehicle capable of reaching 52-54 meters for the fire and emergency department at an estimated cost of ₹16 crore to strengthen disaster response capabilities in high-rise buildings.

As part of urban development, the cabinet approved the formation of Aurad Town Municipal Council in Bidar district by upgrading the existing Aurad Town (B) Panchayat, which had a population of 19,849 as per the 2011 census. The decision was taken under the provisions of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964.

Several projects under the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have also received administrative approval, including operation and maintenance of a 20 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (UWTP) and 5 Intermediate Sewage Pumping Stations (ISPS) at Nagasandra for five years at ₹26.02 crore.

In the field of education, the cabinet approved the establishment of a new medical college in Kanakapura with an autonomous status and an annual intake of 150 students. The project, estimated at ₹550 crore, will include academic buildings, a 300-bed teaching hospital, boys’ and girls’ hostels, staff quarters and related facilities, with funding provided by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

In technical education, ₹70 crore was approved for renovation of CPC Polytechnic in Mysuru and construction of additional facilities, and ₹50 crore for modernization of Chintamani Polytechnic, including an auditorium and infrastructure improvements.

Under the Special State Capital Investment Assistance (SASCI) Scheme – Development of Iconic Tourism Destination, the cabinet approved the first phase of an ecotourism and cultural development project at Devikarani Estate in Tataguni, Bengaluru district, at an estimated cost of ₹55.33 crore.

Other decisions included leasing of civic amenity lands at Annigeri, Afzalpur, Navalgund and Magadi to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Bhavan, Bengaluru.

The cabinet also approved monetization and development of 3,285 acres of land at Derebail in Mangaluru as a commercial office technology park under the DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate and transfer) public-private partnership model.

Besides, he granted nine acres of Gairan land in Hukkeri taluk of Belagavi district to B Shivananda Rural Vidyapeetha, Hodageri, at 10% of the market value.