Kalaburagi
The Welfare Party of India (WPI) concluded its “Kalyana Karnataka Nyayapurna Development Jatha” at the KKR DB office in Kalaburagi, submitting a memorandum to the regional secretaries. The jatha, which began on October 6 from Ballari, traversed Raichur and Bidar before ending in Kalaburagi.
Addressing the gathering, WPI state president Tahir Husein highlighted that despite India’s 78 years of independence, the Kalyana Karnataka region remains one of the most backward areas in the state. Although the 98th constitutional amendment in 2013 granted special status to the region and ₹25,000 crore in funds were released over the past 12 years, the benefits have not reached the people. While the per capita income in Bengaluru division is ₹5.01 lakh, it is only ₹1.73 lakh in Kalyana Karnataka. Districts like Yadgir, Raichur, Kalaburagi, and Koppal remain the poorest, and only 11% of the state’s 17.48 lakh MSMEs operate here.
Husein also pointed out that around 10,000 engineering graduates enter the job market annually, yet many migrate to other districts for employment. Approximately 30 lakh residents face anemia and malnutrition, while nearly 80,000 government vacancies, including 22,000 teaching posts, remain unfilled.
Protestors demanded proper utilization of Kalyana Karnataka Development Board, DMF, and KMERC funds, establishment of new industries with local employment priority, completion of irrigation projects, improvement in education quality, filling of teaching positions, special tribunals to protect minorities and backward communities, multi-specialty hospitals based on population, and a dedicated industrial policy for Kalyana Karnataka.
The event was attended by leaders and activists including Srikanth Salian, Prabhakar, Habibulla Khan, state vice president Mujahida Pasha Qureshi, state secretary Mubeen Ahmad, Jabbar Gola, Afzal Mehmood, Farid Manavi, Fahad Mohsin, Ibrahim Patel, Mahesh Rathod, Syed Amjad, Adil Patel, Saleem Chitpuri, Farid, Sufiyan, Mubashir, and Syed Irfan.