The Karnataka Government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has launched the much awaited ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme on August 30 in the heritage city of Mysuru. A pioneering initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to women who are heads of their respective households in the state. This scheme is part of a series of social welfare programmes introduced by the Congress-led Government to improve the well-being and financial empowerment of women in Karnataka.
Gruhalakshmi programme was launched by AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge by releasing a digital cheque of Rs. 2000 on the stage in the background of a special ballet song and a montage music composed by Sadhu Kokila a film artiste. Kharge also released a book brought out on the occasion of the completion of 100 days of Siddaramiah Government published by the Department of Publicity and Information. The INC chief assured the people of Karnataka that the fifth guarantee of ‘Yuva Nidhi’ will will be implemeted soon. “I have got inputs from various other parties that they also want to deliver this social justice through guarantees, they want us to mentor them in the delivery of social justice to the people”.
He said though the INC guarantees have made waves in the country after the sucessful implemenation, the BJP people were not able to understand the impact and efficacy of the guarantees of the INC. Both Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were unable to gauge the impact of INC guarantees. They were asking what were the achievements of the Congrss government in 53 years. I am obliged to point out to them that from 1947 to 2014 the literacy level has grown from 14 per cent to 74 per cent, the life expectancy was to the extent of 39 years and now it is 71 years till 2014. The women’s literacy level was just 7 per cent in 1947 in the 53 years of rule of INC in the country it has reached 54 per cent till 2014.
The recent Anna Bhagya programme has assured food security to the poor of the state. The food security bill was proposed by the national leader of INC during the UPA government and provided great incentive to the allevation of poverty and malnutrion.
MP and INC leader Rahul Gandhi did the transfer of the first lot of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under Gruhalakshmi programme electronically.
Speaking on the occasion Rahul Gandhi said INC government in Karnataka has met all the promises that it made before the elections which means INC is a party that stands by its words. Gruhalakshmi, Shakti, Anna Bhagya and Gruhalakshmi schemes have been directed towards the welfare of women and their financial and social empowrment. There is a deep rooted philosophy behind the INC guarantees. We in INC believe that the society cannot be shaken that has deep roots like a big tree. I had met hundreds of women and understood that living had become difficult following inflation particularly that of fuel and essential commodities. I consider women as the foundation and roots of our society and without making the roots stronger we cannot hope to strengthen the society. On this day of Raksha Bandhan INC has sustained the brotherly affection through launching the Gruhalakshmi programme in the state.
“Our programmes had baffled the opposition in the state as well as the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had also refused to believe that INC guarantees could be a reality. But today the Gruhalakshmi programme has become the country’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer event”, Rahul Gandhi said. This shows that INC is a party that stands by its promises. But all the developments were possible due to the sustained efforts of women of the state in particular and that of India generally.u
Chief Minsiter Siddaramiah in his speech said that the Central government had tried to stop us from giving 10 kgs of rice to every member of the family and did not co-operate with the state government but we prevailed and met all the promises we made to the people of Karnataka. Today the success of our guarantees is in front of the country and we have belied the statements of the top people of BJP and have established that the INC was pro people party.
Rahul Gandhi also released a digital card on this occasion. Symbolically 10 beneficiaries were given out the digital cards that has a QR code which they can use for getting the payments.
Speaking on the occasion Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said 1.1 Crore mothers and sisters will be beneficiaries of Gruhalakshmi programme. Rahul Gandhi, INC Leader had understood the problems faced by women and youth in the state during his iconic Bharat Jodo Yatra and had directed us to take up the five guarantees with missionery zeal. Today on the momentous occasion of completion of 100 days of the Siddaramiah Government we are proud to say that we have already successfully implemented the four guarantees that the Government promised before the electons.
Health Minister and Senior Legislator Dr. H. C. Mahadevappa adminsitered the oath of being loyal to India and its constitution. State Minister for Women and Child Welfare explained the Gruhalakshmi guarantee of the INC.
The Karnataka Government has already introduced several social guarantee schemes, including ‘Shakti,’ ‘GruhaJyothi,’ and ‘Anna Bhagya,’ each targeting different aspects of social and economic development-women at the centre of all guarantees mainly.
The ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme was announced by the INC leader Rahul Gandhi before the Karnataka assembly elections in May 2023 during a campaign trail in the coastal city of Mangaluru. The scheme aims to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,000 to women who are the heads of their households –which will be cumulatively give an income of Rs. 24,000 per annum to the women.
The Gruhalakshmi as well as other guarantees of the INC had been a brain child of Rahul Gandhi -its leader and MP from Wayanad in Kerala. It could be recalled here that an year or more before the elections to the Karnataka Assembly in 2023 Rahul Gandhi had taken a nation wide tour on foot under the title ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ his experience during this iconic walk he had gathered first hand inputs from the people that the social justice delivery to the poorer classes, particularly women had failed and needed to be strengthened. This experience had led him to launch women centric social justice delivery programme. The five guarantees ever since they were announced, have sent a signal to the people in Karnataka in particular and India in general that social justice delivery has been the central theme of the INC.
Achievements of Previous Guarantees:
The Government, within its first three months in power, successfully launched three guarantees: ‘Anna Bhagya,’ providing 10 kgs of rice per person in a family; free travel for women in State Transport Corporations; and free electricity up to 200 units per household. These initiatives have positively impacted various sections of the population.
Implementation Strategy:
The Government carefully planned the implementation of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to ensure that the benefits reach all eligible beneficiaries. The focus has been on both efficient execution and divine grace, as indicated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to the Chandmundeshwari Temple.
Scheme Details:
Name of the Scheme:Gruha Lakshmi Scheme
State: Karnataka
Department: Women and Child Development Department
Objective: Providing financial assistance to women heads of households in Karnataka
Amount: INR 2,000 per month
Eligibility Criteria:
The woman must be the head of the household.
She must be a resident of Karnataka.
She must be a beneficiary of any government-issued poverty alleviation scheme (BPL, Antyodaya, APL).
She must not be paying/filing GST.
Mode of Payment: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Scheme Launch Date: August 30, 2023
Benefits of Gruha Lakshmi Scheme:
Provides financial assistance to women heads of households.
Improves the financial status of women, enhancing their economic independence.
Empowers women, reducing poverty and promoting economic activity.
Contributes to improved living standards of beneficiaries.
Scheme Budget and Impact:
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allocated Rs. 17,500 Crore for the scheme’s implementation in the current year. An annual budget of Rs. 32,000 Crore has been earmarked for the Gruha Lakshmi programme. Approximately 1.28 crore women are expected to benefit from the scheme which is about 30 per cent of the population of Karnataka state and 28 per cent of the women’s population.
The Gruha Lakshmi Scheme represents a significant step towards women’s empowerment and financial inclusion in Karnataka. By providing monthly financial assistance to women who are heads of households, the Government aims to uplift the socio-economic status of these women and enhance their overall well-being.
The successful implementation of this scheme, alongside previous social guarantees, highlights the commitment of the Karnataka Government towards the welfare of its citizens, particularly women.