Karnataka cabinet approves one-day menstrual leave; okays new medical college, polytechnics upgrades

BENGALURU: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved one day of menstrual leave for women working in various sectors, including garments and Information Technology, the government said.

"The cabinet today approved at least one day leave for working women in various sectors, right from garments to Information Technology," State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil told reporters after the meeting. The cabinet also approved several major proposals across labour, infrastructure, urban development, education, social welfare, and tourism sectors.

It cleared the Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which enhances financial assistance under six existing labour welfare schemes, including educational incentives for organised workers and their dependents.

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Cabinet approves budget for renovation of polytechnics

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

In technical education, Rs 70 crore was sanctioned for renovation of the CPC Polytechnic in Mysuru and construction of additional facilities, and Rs 50 crore for upgrading Chintamani Polytechnic, including an auditorium and infrastructure improvements.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Special Assistance to State Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Destination scheme, the cabinet approved the first phase of an eco-tourism and cultural development project at the Devikarani Estate in Tataguni, Bengaluru district, at an estimated cost of Rs 55.33 crore.

Other decisions included leasing civic amenity plots in Annigeri, Afzalpur, Navalgund, and Magadi to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Bhavan, Bengaluru. The cabinet also approved monetising and developing 3.285 acres of land at Derebail in Mangaluru as a Commercial Office Tech Park under the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) Public-Private Partnership model.

Additionally, it granted nine acres of Gairan land in Hukkeri taluk of Belagavi district to B Shivananda Rural Vidyapeetha, Hodageri, at 10 per cent of the market value.