Modi govt undid Cong’s good work, says Sonia

Agencies

May 9, 2018

Vijayapura, May 9: In her first election rally in two years, former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi charged the NDA government with derailing all the good work done by the previous two UPA regimes even as she launched a personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Choosing Vijayapura to end her “election convention” hibernation, Sonia said, “During the last four years, the only task that the Modi government indulged in was derailing the good work done by the Congress.”

Sonia, draped in a grey saree, told the well attended rally that it was the Siddaramaiah government which made Karnataka the No. 1 state in the country, started Indira Canteens and waived crop loans availed by 22 lakh farmers.

“But the BJP has been opposing the pro-people policies of our government. It is not that the BJP wants to make India Congress-free. It is that they cannot tolerate anyone,” she said.

Training her guns on Modi, Sonia said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had gone to New Delhi to seek relief for farmers who had been reeling under severe drought for the last four years. “But Modi did not give audience. By doing so, he has not just insulted the chief minister but the entire farmer fraternity in the state,” she added.

Further, while the NDA government was providing aid to states, Karnataka had been denied the same, she said. “Is this your sab ka saath sab is vikas?” she asked.

The Congress leader said Modi was a great orator. “He speaks well, but if it feeds the stomach of the poor, let him speak more,” she mocked. Sonia said while Modi does a lot of talking he remains silent on burning issues. Besides, Modi speaks about ideology but shares the dais with those who have gone to jail.

She ended her speech touching on the Lingayat issue. “Modi is going against the Basava principles and people will defeat him,” she said.

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No more agency jobs? Karnataka panel pushes for end to job outsourcing by 2028

News Network

November 21,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 21: The Karnataka government is facing pressure to overhaul its employment system after a high-level Cabinet sub-committee recommended the complete phase-out of job outsourcing in government offices, boards, and corporations by March 2028. The move is aimed at tackling a systemic issue that has led to the potential violation of constitutional reservation policies and the exploitation of workers.

The Call for Systemic Change

With over three lakh vacant posts currently being filled through private agencies on an outsource, insource, or daily wage basis, the sub-committee highlighted a significant lapse. "As a result, reservations are not being followed as per the Constitution and state laws. It’s an urgent need to take serious steps to change the system. It has been recommended to completely stop the system of outsourcing by March 2028," the panel stated in a document.

The practice of outsourcing involves private companies hiring workers to perform duties for a government agency. Critics argue this model results in lesser salaries, a lack of social security benefits (otherwise available to permanent government employees), and a failure to adhere to the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

The 'Bidar Model' as a Stop-Gap Solution

To regulate the current mode of employment and reduce worker exploitation until the 2028 deadline, the government plans to establish workers’ services multi-purpose cooperative societies across all districts, following the successful "Bidar Model."

The Bidar District Services of Labour Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd., which operates under the District Commissioner, is cited as a successful example of providing a measure of social security to outsourced staff. Labour Department officials argue this society ensures workers receive their due wages and statutory facilities like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and PF (Provident Fund), in exchange for a 1% service fee collected from the employees.

legislative push and Priority Insourcing

The recommendations, led by the sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, are set to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. The committee has proposed the introduction of the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill 2025.

In a move addressing immediate concerns, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, a member of the sub-committee, has reportedly assured that steps will be taken over the next 2-3 years to insource workers in "life-threatening services" on a priority basis. This includes essential personnel like pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), drivers, electrical staff in the Energy Department, and Health Department staff handling contagious diseases. The transition aims to grant these workers the long-term security and benefits they currently lack under the outsourcing system.

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