Bengaluru: A 43-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old boy in northern Bengaluru, police said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Hemavathi, who had been married three times but had no children, allegedly abducted the child from near his home in Hunasemaranahalli on October 25 with the help of her friend, Khurshid alias Kamala, as reported by Deccan Herald.

Hemavathi, who had separated from all her husbands and longed for a child, sought Khurshid’s assistance in planning the abduction.

The boy’s father, Amariah, 25, an autorickshaw driver, lodged a complaint after his son went missing.

A police investigation was launched, and CCTV footage from the area showed a woman picking up the child.

Based on the footage and further inquiry, police tracked down and arrested both women.

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Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.

Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.

He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.

Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.

He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.

He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.

Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.

The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.

“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.