The Congress government in Karnataka has initiated a re-verification process for beneficiaries of the Gruha Laxmi scheme, which offers a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 to women heading households. This move has raised concerns about potential cutbacks in flagship guarantee programs. However, officials clarify that the re-verification aims to prevent misuse and ensure that deserving recipients receive benefits.
The decision to review the Gruha Laxmi scheme comes after the discovery of alleged irregularities, including funds being transferred to the accounts of 1.48 lakh deceased beneficiaries. Congress MLC Dinesh Gooligowda, Vice Chairman of the Guarantee Implementation Committee, identified this issue.
Following the detection of misuse, the government halted payments to the affected accounts and opted to reassess the list of beneficiaries. Dinesh Gooligowda confirmed that Rs 2,000 monthly payments were mistakenly credited to accounts of deceased beneficiaries.
D.K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister, has endorsed a comprehensive re-verification of Gruha Laxmi beneficiaries to address the situation. Approximately 1.48 lakh deceased beneficiaries continued to receive payments for up to five months, with officials also noting discrepancies in linked mobile numbers.
The government is contemplating soliciting fresh applications from beneficiaries as part of the verification process. Currently, there are about 1.28 crore beneficiaries under the Gruha Laxmi scheme in Karnataka, with the state spending around Rs 30-32 crore monthly on the initiative.
Amid assurances that guarantee schemes will not be withdrawn, the government emphasizes the importance of verifying beneficiaries to prevent misuse and ensure benefits reach the rightful recipients. Jhanvi Rajshekar, a JD(S) leader, criticized the government’s handling of guarantee schemes, alleging mismanagement and financial burden.
