Bengaluru: June 1’s Cabinet meeting regarding the implementation of five guarantee schemes has been postponed to June 2.
In the ministerial meeting held on May 31 under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar, the Finance Department officials said that implementation is impossible without conditions, so there is no complete clarity yet. Under Anna Bhagya Yojana, 10 kg of rice per person and free bus travel for women should be prioritised. It is said that the opinion expressed in the meeting is that the remaining guarantees including 200 units of free electricity and Rs. 2000 per month for the house owner should be implemented in the near future.
Advice has been sought about depositing subsidy money into people’s account after collecting money from people for free electricity project and limiting transport guarantee to the District.
The Minister of Transport, Energy, Women and Child Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj informed in the meeting about the officials’ discussions made regarding the guarantee schemes and the issues proposed there.
Finally, the Chief Minister has been given supreme authority over the implementation of guarantee schemes. It has been suggested to hold another round of meetings with key Finance Department officials on June 1, re-work out and submit a report in the Cabinet meeting on June 2. It is said that after the Cabinet meeting on that day, the Chief Minister will announce the implementation of the guarantees along with the guidelines.
Officials asserted that it is difficult in the current situation to set up the funds required for five guarantee schemes at once. Sources said that they have given information about the amount of grant from which department and have informed that only Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 crores will be available. It is also said that the ministers and officials have been warned not to disclose the details of the discussion and the points raised in the meeting.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, D. K. Shivakumar said, “We are committed to the implementation of guarantee schemes. Officials have given their opinion and advice. He said that instead of June 1, he will discuss comprehensively in the Cabinet meeting and inform the media.
Here enforcement is more important in a system than a condition. The scheme has to be implemented in a systematic way as to whom and which bus the free bus travel is for. Is the graduate at home when it comes to unemployment benefits? Or whether he is in private work etc. should be calculated, he said.
He said that we will not yield to the pressure of the Opposition or anyone else.