Sandur (Ballari): Karnataka labour minister Santosh S Lad Sunday said efforts will be made to implement a new minimum wage in the state in the coming days, in line with Supreme Court guidelines that factor in workers’ needs for food, clothing and housing.The minimum monthly wage averages about Rs 19,000.Lad said the state govt is committed to the welfare of unorganised sector workers and is bringing them into the mainstream through initiatives such as Ambedkar Sahaya Hasta programme. He noted Karnataka is the first state to introduce a Gig Workers Bill to safeguard the interests of delivery personnel working with online platforms.He added that the govt will soon distribute smart cards for the welfare of drivers and cleaners. New legislation such as Cine Bill and Domestic Workers Bill are being framed to ensure social security for film industry workers and domestic workers.At an event here, Sandur MLA E Annapurna said the taluk has seen a strong focus on education. Of the 175 schools, 65 have already been developed into model schools, while plans are in place to upgrade the remaining 110.Ballari MP E Tukaram highlighted the ‘Clinic on Wheels’ initiative, under which 13 mobile units have been delivering healthcare services at people’s doorsteps, benefiting around 8.3 lakh people since 2020, with an average of 1.6 lakh beneficiaries annually.
