Karnataka BJP demands release of disability honorarium, hike to ₹5,000
Synopsis
Karnataka's BJP opposition leader R. Ashoka has formally demanded that the state government release five months of withheld disability honorarium and hike it to ₹5,000 a month — while flagging the job insecurity of 6,000 grassroots rehabilitation workers who have served without regularisation for nearly two decades. An indefinite fast at Ramanagara is ongoing with no government response yet.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka demanded the immediate release of disability honorarium withheld in Karnataka for the past five months .
He urged the state to raise the monthly honorarium to ₹5,000 , citing the Andhra Pradesh model.
Approximately 6,000 MRW, VRW and URW workers with 19 years of service have been demanding job regularisation.
Workers of the Nava Karnataka MRW/VRW/URW Disability Honorarium Workers' Association are on an indefinite fast near the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner's office .
Ashoka wrote to the Chief Secretary and Revenue Department , listing specific demands and seeking written confirmation of action taken.
The state government has not sent any representative to the protest site, according to Ashoka.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, demanded the immediate release of disability honorarium withheld across Karnataka for the past five months and urged the state government to raise the monthly amount to ₹5,000, citing the Andhra Pradesh model as a benchmark. Ashoka has written a formal letter to the Chief Secretary and the Revenue Department outlining his demands.
The Core Grievance
According to Ashoka, the honorarium — a critical financial support for persons with disabilities — has been withheld by the state government on the grounds of revision and verification. He termed this approach 'inhuman' and unpardonable, arguing that revision is an ongoing administrative process and should never be used to pause essential financial assistance. 'Most persons with disabilities depend on this honorarium for medicines and monthly essential expenses,' Ashoka stated in his letter to the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department.
He added that the continued withholding of funds is directly disrupting the daily lives of beneficiaries who have no alternative source of support. The demand for a hike to ₹5,000 per month reflects a push to align Karnataka with Andhra Pradesh, which reportedly provides a higher monthly disability support amount.
Job Security for 6,000 Rehabilitation Workers
Beyond the honorarium issue, Ashoka also raised the cause of approximately 6,000 MRW, VRW and URW workers — differently abled and senior citizen rehabilitation workers employed under Karnataka's Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens. These workers have been serving for 19 years without regularisation, and Ashoka urged the state to examine the possibility of regularising their services and placing a proposal before the Cabinet.
He underscored that these grassroots workers play a key role in channelling government schemes and services to eligible beneficiaries in rural areas, making their job security not just a welfare issue but a governance one.
Protest at Ramanagara, Government Silent
Workers affiliated with the Nava Karnataka MRW/VRW/URW Disability Honorarium Workers' Association, along with persons with disabilities, have been observing an indefinite fast near the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner's office. Ashoka said he visited the protest site as Leader of the Opposition and received their memorandum.
He criticised the state government for failing to send any representative to meet the protesters, calling the absence of official engagement a serious lapse. In view of the deteriorating health condition of those fasting, he urged the government to immediately depute senior officials to the protest site, receive the memorandum, and facilitate the withdrawal of the indefinite fast.
Key Demands Submitted to the State
Ashoka's letter to the Chief Secretary listed the following specific demands: the immediate release of the pending honorarium for all withheld months; raising the monthly amount to ₹5,000; guaranteed job security for around 6,000 MRW/VRW/URW workers; an examination of their regularisation within the department; fixing a clear deadline for the Revenue Department to act; and deputing senior officials to the Ramanagara protest site without delay.
He also requested written communication from the Chief Secretary confirming the action taken on each demand. The state government is yet to respond officially to the letter or to the ongoing protest.
Point of View
Not an administrative oversight — and the BJP is right to apply pressure, even if the timing has political convenience written all over it. The deeper issue is structural: Karnataka's rehabilitation workers have served for 19 years without regularisation, surviving on a support amount that has not kept pace with inflation. Comparing it to Andhra Pradesh's ₹5,000 standard exposes how far behind Karnataka is on disability welfare. The real accountability question is not just why payments stopped, but why an indefinite fast was needed before even a government representative showed up.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the disability honorarium been withheld in Karnataka?
The Karnataka state government withheld the disability honorarium for five months citing the need for revision and verification of beneficiaries. BJP leader R. Ashoka has called this justification 'inhuman', arguing that revision is an ongoing process and should not be grounds to halt essential financial assistance.
How much is BJP demanding the disability honorarium be raised to?
BJP leader R. Ashoka has urged the Karnataka government to raise the monthly disability honorarium to ₹5,000, citing the Andhra Pradesh model as a reference. The current amount has not been specified in official communications, but the demand reflects a significant proposed hike.
Who are the MRW, VRW and URW workers in Karnataka?
MRW, VRW and URW workers are differently abled and senior citizen rehabilitation workers employed under Karnataka's Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens. Approximately 6,000 of them have been serving for 19 years and are demanding job regularisation from the state government.
What is happening at the Ramanagara protest?
Workers of the Nava Karnataka MRW/VRW/URW Disability Honorarium Workers' Association, along with persons with disabilities, are observing an indefinite fast near the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner's office. Ashoka visited the protest site and criticised the government for not sending any official representative to engage with the demonstrators.
What action has R. Ashoka taken on this issue?
R. Ashoka has written a formal letter to the Karnataka Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department, listing demands including immediate honorarium release, a hike to ₹5,000, job security for 6,000 workers, and deputation of senior officials to the Ramanagara protest site. He has also sought written confirmation of action taken on each demand.
