Abdul Majeed, SDPI Karnataka president, at a press conference in Mangaluru on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Karnataka president Abdul Majeed on Tuesday urged the State government to immediately scrap the ₹32,000 annual income limit set for social security pensions, including old age, widow, disability, and others.
The income limit should be fixed at least at ₹3 lakh per annum, he said. Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Majeed quoted the recent statement of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa wherein the Minister had said the government was considering revising the income limit for below poverty line (BPL) cards from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹3 lakh per annum.
Prescribing ₹32,000 income for social pensions speaks about the government’s dual policy. No other State has such a low income limit for social security schemes. The elderly, widows and the disabled have to stand in queues and bribe officials even for small certificates, he said alleging the revenue department has become a hotbed of corruption. There should be a single, simple and transparent standard for all social security and welfare schemes in the State.
Warranty expires
Stating that the ‘warranty’ of the ‘guarantee schemes’ of the Congress government has expired, Mr. Majeed regretted that the government was harassing people in the name of documents to reduce the number of beneficiaries.
The Congress that had said everything was free to all was now making people go to Nadakacheri, Tahsildar’s office, Gram One and Karnataka One to submit PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, income certificates and ration cards for various schemes.
Fourth largest
The SDPI president said people were disillusioned with the governance of various parties and were looking for an alternative, which was why the SDPI emerged as the fourth alternative.
The party has established its presence in all the districts. It stands with the common man and participates in the forefront of the struggle and therefore has the morality of asking for votes. He said that it would actively participate in all the elections, from the upcoming Gram Panchayat to the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
State General Secretary Riyaz Kadambu, Mangaluru City District President Ashraf Addur and General Secretary Jamal Jokatte were present.
Published – August 11, 2026 08:10 pm IST
