Guarantee schemes hailed as a boon to women, youth
Speaking at an event to interact with beneficiaries of Yuva Nidhi scheme at Mahatma Gandhi Auditorium in Gulbarga University on Wednesday, Mr. Khan highlighted the impact of the scheme on youth employment.
'Due to the implementation of Yuva Nidhi, the unemployment rate in the State has dropped to 2.25% from 4.8%,' he said.
He added that these welfare schemes, which cost the government around ₹52,000 crore annually, are unparalleled globally.
'International studies have affirmed that such comprehensive welfare models are rare. These schemes have helped secure the lives of millions of people in Karnataka,' he noted.
Mr. Khan also pointed out that the Shakti scheme has not only supported women's professional journeys but also helped them lead independent lives. As a result of the Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi schemes, women's entrepreneurship in the State has risen to 12%.
Similarly, the Anna Bhagya scheme has alleviated hunger, while free electricity under Gruha Jyothi has further lightened the financial burden on households, he said.
'There are often allegations of corruption in other welfare schemes but the guarantee schemes have been implemented transparently without any misappropriation. Credit for this goes to the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,' Mr. Khan said.
He urged beneficiaries facing technical issues with Yuva Nidhi disbursements to call the toll-free helpline 1800-599-7154 for resolution. He also encouraged youth to take the lead in spreading awareness about these schemes in their communities.
Several beneficiaries shared their experiences during the interaction.
'For the past 11 months, I've been receiving financial support through Yuva Nidhi. It has helped me buy books and attend training to secure employment,' said Shivalingayya.
'Coming from a farming family with limited financial means, the Yuva Nidhi scheme has helped me and my brother undergo job training in Dharwad. Gruha Lakshmi funds are also being received and free electricity under Gruha Jyothi has brightened our home,' said Vijayalakshmi, a postgraduate student.
Nabi, another student, called for gender-inclusive access to the benefits of the Shakti scheme for both male and female students.
'Thanks to the Shakti scheme, I have been able to travel and visit places I never imagined. This free travel is enabling parents to consider higher education for their daughters,' said Pooja, a chemistry student.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena urged students to actively participate in extracurricular activities and discussions alongside their studies.
'Success in life is possible through hard work. Make full use of the university campus and library facilities. Yuva Nidhi must be used wisely,' he said.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority chairperson Chandrika Parameshwari, vice-chairperson Somashekhara Hiremath, Chief Planning Officer S.S. Mathapati, Project Director Jagadeva, Assistant Director of the District Employment Exchange Bharathi, Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department Bheemaraya and Gulbarga University Registrar Ramesh Landankar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt sets up 27 fast track special courts across Maharashtra to expedite child sexual assault trials
Pune: State govt has established 27 fast track special courts in Maharashtra, including four in Pune district, to conduct time-bound trials and dispose of pending cases related to sexual assault and crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012. According to a notification issued by the law and judiciary department on Aug 1, three courts were set up at the sessions court in Pune city. Additionally, a court commenced functioning at the sessions court in Khed in the district. Six courts were also established at the Bombay city civil and sessions courts, two in Dindoshi, and one each in Thane, Nashik, Kolhapur, and Nagpur, among other locations. Central govt issued guidelines under the National Mission for Safety of Women for setting up fast track special courts to ensure speedy disposal of cases filed under the Pocso Act . In Pune district, approximately more than 6,000 cases are pending in various courts. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Legal experts and child rights activists said Maharashtra govt's move is to address the backlog of cases related to crimes against children. Supreme Court lawyer Sana Raees Khan told TOI: "The establishment of 27 fast track special courts is certainly a step in the right direction, but we must not ignore the ground reality. Designated Pocso courts have existed for years, yet cases continue to languish for years due to systemic bottlenecks. The problem has never been just the number of courts; it is the pace and quality of justice. Without appointing adequately trained judges, ensuring efficient case management, timely forensic reports, and proper victim witness protection, these courts risk becoming yet another layer of formality rather than a solution. " In crimes against children, every day of delay adds to the trauma, Khan said. "True progress will come only when infrastructure is matched with efficiency, sensitivity, and absolute responsibility." Child rights activist Varsha Rokade said child rights should be given utmost importance in the country because children are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse, child labour, child marriage, and deprived of education. "They are denied childhood and cannot express themselves like women can. To safeguard the rights of children, mainly girls, this is a right step taken by govt. The courts should either work 24/7 or in two shifts of eight hours each to fast-track the hearing of cases in the shortest possible time as per the mandate of the Pocso Act. " Govt should also appoint a special district-wise committee to monitor the functioning of the children's shelter homes to study and understand their problems and suggest possible solutions, Rokade said, adding these committees should submit reports before the fast track special courts. Retired prosecutor Balasaheb Khopade suggested that a team of designated special public prosecutors and pairvi officers be appointed to serve summons on witnesses to secure their presence before the courts for recording their evidence, executing warrants, and securing the presence of accused lodged in state jails either by videoconferencing or physical production. "As of now, prosecutors appointed in special courts are given general powers to handle all criminal cases. The new courts scheme sounds good, but its execution is important," Khopade said. Cases related to crimes against children pending before the 25 courts in Pune district will now be transferred to the four new courts to expedite trials, special prosecutor Leena Pathak said. Defence lawyer Maruti Jadhav said that on an average more than 150 cases are listed for hearing before the Pocso court, but evidence of merely five witnesses is recorded because the existing court is overburdened with work. "Out of the four new courts, one court will hear and pass orders on the police remand/magisterial custody remand reports. All the fast track special courts have been given power to hear and decide on bail pleas. Now litigants will get shorter dates instead of longer ones, and trials can be expedited," Jadhav said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launches projects worth ₹1,107 crore for Varuna constituency
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched development works worth ₹1,107.72 crore for his home constituency Varuna on Saturday. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the projects in Varuna assembly constituency across different departments at a function here, Mr. Siddaramaiah recalled his political journey starting with his first assembly election in 1983, when he won as an independent candidate and became a Minister. The Chief Minister said that he had won the elections to the Legislative Assembly five times from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency, and twice from Varuna assembly constituency. While thanking the people of Chamundeshwari, Mr. Siddaramaiah also recalled that he became the Chief Minister on both the occasions he won from Varuna and said that he will be indebted to the people of the constituency. Highest per capita income After fulfilling 158 out of the 163 promises the Congress had made before the 2013 Assembly elections in Karnataka, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the government promised to implement five guarantee schemes — Anna Bhagya, Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, and Yuva Nidhi — to eliminate economic inequality and uplift the poor before the 2023 assembly polls. The Congress government was spending ₹55,000 crore every year to implement the guarantee schemes, which had taken the State to the top position in the country in terms of per capita income, the Chief Minsiter said. 'These schemes have put more money into the hands of the people and boosted the economy, which has in turn increased the per capita income,' he said, while also pointing out that Karnataka stood second in GST collections in the country, next only to Maharashtra. Also, the government had fulfilled 242 out of the 542 promises made before the 2023 elections, he claimed. Contending that equal opportunities should be given to everybody in the society to eliminate economic inequalities, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the development programmes taken up by his government to uplift the poor, farmers, women, and economically weaker sections were being implemented without any discrimination on caste or religious lines. MP for Chamarajanagar Sunil Bose, who also spoke on the occasion, said that the people of Varuna constituency had given the State a popular Chief Minister in Mr. Siddaramaiah, whose government had carrieds out developmental works alongside the implementation of guarantee schemes. Yathindra, Congress MLC, who is also a former MLA of Varuna, sought to make it clear that there is no shortage of funds for taking up development works in the State even though the government was implementing guarantee schemes. 'These schemes ensure more money reaches the hands of the people,' he said, while reiterating that Karnataka ranked first in the country in per capita income. H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister in charge of Mysuru district; K. Venkatesh, Minister for Sericulture and Animal Husbandry; H.M. Revanna and Pushpa Amarnath, Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee respectively; K. Thimmaiah, MLC; G. Lakshmikant Reddy, Deputy Commissioner; and S. Yukesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, were also present on the occasion.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Pakistan says it welcomes US, global support to resolve Kashmir issue
Pakistan on Friday expressed its willingness to accept assistance from the United States or any other country in resolving the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan made the statement during his weekly media briefing while responding to a question on Washington's interest in the matter.'Regarding the US' interest in resolving the Kashmir dispute, we welcome help not just from the United States but from any nation that can help stabilise the situation and move towards a peaceful resolution. The Kashmir issue lies at the core of peace and security in South Asia,' Khan remarks come against the backdrop of India's firm stance against third-party involvement. New Delhi insists on addressing all issues with Islamabad bilaterally, as outlined in the 1972 Simla Agreement, which explicitly rules out external to queries about possible engagements between the two neighbours following their brief four-day conflict in May, Khan clarified there had been no such dialogue.'We welcome the US' interest in working with both sides, but our diplomatic approach remains clear—we prefer the path of diplomacy. It is now up to the Indian side to decide. So far, there have been no contacts beyond routine diplomatic communication,' he has reiterated that talks with Pakistan would be limited to issues concerning Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Khan said Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over terrorism originating from Afghanistan. He stressed that such threats continue to affect regional also dismissed speculation regarding a secret agreement with the US for mineral extraction. 'There is no question of compromising Pakistan's national interests. Foreign investments are invited through transparent mechanisms,' he rejected as 'baseless' the claims of Pakistani nationals being involved in the Ukraine conflict. He added that Islamabad has not received any formal communication from Ukrainian authorities regarding the renewed openness to international mediation on Kashmir is expected to draw strong reactions from India, which remains steadfast on bilateral engagement as the only way forward.- EndsWith inputs from PTITune InMust Watch advertisement
