Ganga Kalyana Irrigation Scheme
A fully funded borewell and pump-set for small and marginal SC, ST, OBC and minority farmers who depend entirely on rain.
Run by: Social Welfare Department / KMDC, Government of Karnataka
- Most districts
- Up to ₹3 lakh
- Five hard-rock districts
- Up to ₹4 lakh
- For
- SC / ST / OBC / minority
- Holding
- About 1.2 to 5 acres
Overview
A rainfed field in Karnataka is one bad monsoon away from nothing. Ganga Kalyana targets the farmers least able to sink a borewell themselves — small and marginal cultivators from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities — and funds the whole irrigation package: drilling the borewell, and installing the pump-set to lift the water.
The assistance is substantial because a borewell is expensive: financial support of up to ₹3 lakh for an individual borewell project in most districts, rising to ₹4 lakh in five hard-rock districts (Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara and Tumakuru) where boring goes deeper. It is delivered through the Social Welfare Department and the community development corporations, and is aimed at holdings between about 1.2 and 5 acres.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- A funded borewell and pump-set, so a rainfed field gets an assured water source.
- Up to ₹3 lakh in most districts, and up to ₹4 lakh in five hard-rock districts where drilling is deeper.
- Targeted at small and marginal SC, ST, OBC and minority farmers who cannot fund a borewell alone.
- Delivered through the Social Welfare Department and community development corporations.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Permanent resident of Karnataka, aged 18 or above
- Belonging to SC, ST, OBC or a minority community
- Small or marginal farmer holding roughly 1.2 to 5 acres
- Land dependent on rain, with no assured irrigation
Not covered
- Holdings already served by assured irrigation
- Land outside the roughly 1.2–5 acre band
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Caste / category certificate
- Income certificate
- RTC (pahani) land record
- Bank passbook
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Apply to the relevant development corporation
Applications are invited by the Social Welfare Department and corporations such as KMDC. Apply against the open call for your category.
- 2
Verification of land and category
Your holding size, category and lack of irrigation are verified — these are what the scheme is targeted on.
- 3
Borewell drilled and pump installed
On sanction, the borewell is drilled and the pump-set installed under the scheme, up to the district’s ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ganga Kalyana for?
Small and marginal farmers from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities who depend on rain and cannot afford to sink a borewell themselves.
How much is funded?
Up to ₹3 lakh for an individual borewell in most districts, and up to ₹4 lakh in five hard-rock districts where boring has to go deeper.
Does it cover the pump as well as the borewell?
Yes. The scheme funds the whole package — drilling the borewell and installing the pump-set to lift the water.
Facts checked against sw.kar.nic.in on 24 July 2026. editorial policy.