Latest news with #GruhaLakshmi

The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Guarantee schemes hailed as a boon to women, youth
The State government's guarantee schemes are playing a transformative role in empowering women and youth, said vice-president of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority S.R. Mehroz Khan. 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.

The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Information pavilion showcasing State govt. achievements in two years inaugurated
Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Sharan Prakash Patil inaugurated an information pavilion at the Kalaburagi Central Bus Stand on Wednesday for showcasing the achievements of the State government in the last two years. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Patil said that the government has implemented the five pre-poll guarantee schemes with the objective of strengthening the lives of the beneficiaries. 'The opposition should stop making baseless allegations and recognise the reality. These schemes have brought hope and security to the people of Karnataka,' he claimed. The pavilion, organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations, provides comprehensive information on the government's performance in agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, housing and the welfare of marginalised communities in the last two years. It also features testimonials from beneficiaries, financial details and highlights the positive impact of the five guarantee schemes. 'Pragatiyatta Karnataka' (Progressing Karnataka), the theme of the exhibit, is supported by messages from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Dr. Patil has appealed to the people to visit and explore the pavilion. Responding to a question about delays in disbursing the monthly ₹2,000 under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Dr. Patil clarified a delay of 10-15 days did not imply that the scheme has failed. 'The government has to function with financial constraints. We have implemented the schemes effectively for two years and we will continue to do it over the remaining three,' he added. Vice-president of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority, S.R. Mehroz Khan said that the guarantee schemes are rooted in the ideals of Basavanna, Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. He commended the Department of Information and Public Relations for providing such a unique and accessible platform to educate the public. A brochure highlighting the progress of the five guarantee schemes was distributed to the public on the occasion. Open till June 10 The pavilion will remain open to the public until June 10. Visitors can view the exhibits between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Several dignitaries, including District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority chairperson Chandrika Parameshwari, vice-president Somashekhara Hiremath, Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum, Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa, Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena, KKRTC Managing Director M. Rachappa, D.K. Rajaratna and Ravi Miraskar, and officials from the Department of Information and Public Relations were present during the event.

The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Ensure effective implementation of guarantee schemes that draw national, international attention: Mehroz Khan
Saying that the State government's five guarantee schemes are being lauded nationally and internationally, S.R. Mehroz Khan, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka State Guarantees' Implementation Authority, urged officials to ensure that the schemes are effectively implemented. Chairing a review meeting on the progress of the schemes in Bidar on Tuesday, he highlighted the importance of efficient execution to maintain the credibility and success of the schemes. 'Karnataka's guarantee schemes, implemented at an annual cost of ₹52,000 crore, have empowered the economically weaker sections. Bidar district had achieved a remarkable 98% implementation rate. These schemes have helped the poor and middle-class families to establish small businesses and lead self-reliant lives,' he said. Emphasising the importance of outreach, Mr. Khan instructed officials to launch special awareness campaigns in colleges and among young people to promote the Yuva Nidhi scheme. He also directed transport authorities to ensure that school and college buses operate on schedule and stop appropriately to avoid inconvenience to students. In the light of recent reported cases on the smuggling of Anna Bhagya scheme rice, Mr. Khan warned fair price shops, entrusted with the responsibility of distributing the rice to beneficiaries, of stringent legal action, apart from cancelling their licences and blacklisting them. Providing implementation statistics, Mr. Khan said that, as of May, 3,74,323 women from a total of 3,81,970 ration card-holding families in Bidar have registered under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. A cumulative amount of ₹1,197.64 crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries. Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, a total of 13,13,305 beneficiaries have benefited from an expenditure of ₹333.28 crore. From July 2023 to January 2025, the cash equivalent of 5 kg of rice was transferred. From February 2025 onwards, beneficiaries have been receiving 10 kg of rice. Mr. Khan urged the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure that this rice is not illegally diverted. Regarding the Yuva Nidhi scheme, Mr. Khan stated that 10,489 youth have registered in Bidar district, with a total of ₹15.98 crore disbursed to them. He also mentioned that 3,49,588 beneficiaries have been covered under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, with ₹327.69 crore spent. Speaking about the Shakti scheme, Mr. Khan noted that from June 11, 2023, to May 31, 2025, 8.15 crore trips were made, with an average of 1.3 lakh women travelling daily. This has resulted in an expenditure of ₹233.27 crore. Daily revenue from all passengers has averaged ₹32.4 lakh. 'Overall, Bidar district has recorded a total of 8,01,86,364 beneficiaries across all five guarantee schemes, with an aggregate expenditure of ₹2,107.86 crore so far. I appeal to all officials to continue their sincere efforts in delivering these benefits effectively and to ensure that citizens are made fully aware of the schemes available to them,' he said.


Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In 2 years, govt pumped Rs 89.4k-crore into guarantee schemes
Bengaluru: Over the past two years, the Siddaramaiah-led state govt has spent a staggering Rs 89,428 crore on its flagship guarantee schemes and other welfare initiatives, presenting this spending as an economic model aimed at providing social security to the poor and marginalised. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Following aggressive advertising campaigns featuring QR codes to showcase individual beneficiaries, the govt recently released a detailed 124-page report highlighting the progress of these schemes. The govt calls these initiatives as a "universal basic income model", insisting that the "pancha", or five guarantees, have "redefined welfare governance by addressing systemic inequities and fostering inclusive growth". On Tuesday, the govt unveiled its sixth guarantee scheme — 'title deeds' or Bhu guarantee, extending property ownership documentation to all residents of the state. The govt says the schemes were designed to deliver direct financial relief and social security, which "catalysed profound socio-economic changes, while stabilising household economies amid rising inflation and unemployment". Official data shows the Gruha Lakshmi scheme accounts for the highest expenditure — Rs 47,773 crore on 1.2 crore beneficiaries. This is followed by Gruha Jyothi, which has cost Rs 18,900 crore, providing 1.6 crore people with free electricity up to 200 units. The Yuva Nidhi scheme, launched six months after Cong took office, has the lowest expenditure at Rs 376 crore and benefits 3.7 lakh unemployed graduates and diploma holders with monthly allowances of Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,500, respectively. The Shakthi scheme, offering free bus travel for women within Karnataka, has recorded a staggering 458 crore cumulative trips over two years, costing the exchequer Rs 8,815 crore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Anna Bhagya scheme, which supplies an additional 5kg rice to BPL cardholders, has served 4.4 crore beneficiaries at a cost of Rs 13,564 crore. A finance department official told TOI that while the model is taxing on the exchequer, it "cannot be stopped and can only be rationalised in the next three years". "We will try to trim excess in each of these schemes and bring them down to 1 crore beneficiaries across the board," the official said.


Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Montessori will be introduced in anganwadis: Hebbalkar
Chikkamagaluru: If everything goes as planned, Montessori, nursery, and kindergarten model classes will open in anganwadi centres from this year. Minister for women and child development Laxmi Hebbalkar said govt is planning to introduce Montessori in anganwadis to provide quality education to children. After the inauguration of the conference of the 'Paanch Guarantee Schemes' at Kuvempu Kalamandira, organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, women and child development department, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, and District Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authority, the minister mentioned that 130 anganwadi centres in the district have been identified for this initiative to mark 50 years of anganwadis in Karnataka. "Our govt exists for the development of the people. We recognise women as heads of households and have implemented the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to empower them. We ensure that govt funds are directly deposited into their accounts without any intermediaries," she said. "Govt has designed model schemes to benefit the entire state, and Chikkamagaluru district ranks first in the implementation of guarantee schemes. Three districts in the state are actively working on this, including Chikkamagaluru," she added. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Alerta: Você tem zumbido no ouvido? Dica de ouro pode aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido HD Thammaiah, MLA of Chikkamagaluru constituency, announced the Land Guarantee Scheme alongside the Paanch Guarantee Schemes. "The aim of the scheme is to convert long-ignored inhabited areas into revenue villages and provide title deeds to families in the model of 'the one who cultivates is the owner of the land' and 'the one who resides is the owner of the house'," he said. MC Shivanandaswamy, president of the District Guarantee Scheme, in his introductory remarks, said, "In our district, 261,415 household heads receive 2,000 rupees each per month." Mudigere MLA Nayana Motamma, deputy commissioner Meena Nagaraj CN, ZP CEO HS Keerthana, superintendent of police Vikram Amathe, chairman of the State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation BH Harish, Sringeri MLA TD Rajegowda, and others were present.