As part of its nation-wide padayatra from August 6 to 15, the Communist Party of India (CPI) will organise a campaign across Karnataka to press for the implementation of various public welfare measures and policy reforms.

In Kalaburagi district, the padayatra will be held at Jewargi, Aland and Yadrami taluks, covering around 100 villages. During the campaign, party leaders and activists will submit memorandums to the gram panchayat authorities highlighting local issues.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday (August 2), CPI district secretary Mahesh Kumar Rathod and party leader Prabhudev Yelasanghi said the campaign would focus on issues affecting rural communities and economically weaker sections. The party has demanded the provision of basic civic amenities, including safe drinking water, roads, public toilets, schools, healthcare facilities, and bus connectivity, in all villages.

Mr. Rathod urged the State government to declare Kalaburagi a drought-hit district, undertake drought relief works without delay, and provide immediate employment to agricultural labourers.

Among the other demands are the allotment of land and construction of houses for the landless and homeless, the release of pending widow pensions, old-age pensions and financial assistance to persons with disabilities, which have reportedly remained pending for the last four to five months, and enhancement of all social security pensions to ₹3,000 a month.

The party has also demanded the immediate filling of vacancies in government departments and educational institutions, completion of all pending irrigation projects on a war footing, and a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB).

The CPI leaders said both the State and Union governments need to revisit their policy priorities to address the concerns of ordinary citizens. They called for reforms in agriculture, the economy, industry, foreign affairs, education, healthcare, banking and transportation, contending that the existing policy framework has failed to adequately respond to people’s needs.

They also advocated electoral reforms, arguing that the growing influence of money power in elections has reduced opportunities for ordinary citizens to contest and get elected as people’s representatives.

The CPI leaders said the padayatra would also serve as a platform to interact with people at the grassroots and create awareness about the issues being raised by the party. They said party leaders and activists would discuss the challenges faced by farmers, agricultural labourers, women, youth and other vulnerable sections, while mobilising public support for their demands.

Published - August 02, 2026 06:31 pm IST