02-06-2023 : All five guarantees announced by the ruling Congress party would be put into effect, according to the Karnataka Cabinet, which is chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. During the current fiscal year, these promises shall be carried out without any caste- or religion-based discrimination. The Cabinet has made decisions regarding the guarantees and their implementation following a thorough debate of the subject.
The Congress party had pledged to fulfill five guarantees upon coming to power. These guarantees include providing 200 units of free electricity per month to all households (Gruha Jyoti), offering a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to women who are the heads of their families (Gruha Lakshmi), distributing 10 kg of rice free of cost to every member of a below-poverty-line (BPL) household (Anna Bhagya), granting Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 per month to unemployed diploma holders (both between the ages of 18 and 25) (YuvaNidhi), and ensuring free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
The implementation of the Gruha Jyoti scheme, which provides 200 units of free electricity per month to every household, will commence from July 1. However, customers will be required to pay any outstanding arrears.
Regarding the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which grants Rs 2,000 per month to women heads of households (karthas), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that it will be implemented from August 15. The application process for this scheme will open on June 15 and continue until July 15, allowing applicants to submit their information online. Aadhaar and bank account details must be provided along with the applications. Both BPL and above-poverty-line (APL) cardholders will be eligible for this scheme, and beneficiaries of social security schemes will also receive the benefits.
Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, 10 kg of food grains will be distributed to each member of BPL households and Antyodaya cardholders starting from July 1. Additionally, the ‘Shakti’ initiative will enable women to travel for free in public transport buses, excluding AC and luxury buses, within Karnataka, effective from June 1. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will reserve 50 percent of seats for men, while the remaining seats will be reserved for women.
Furthermore, the ‘YuvaNidhi’ scheme will provide an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month for graduates and Rs 1,500 per month for diploma holders who registered as unemployed in 2022-23. This allowance will be provided for a duration of 24 months, starting from the date of registration. If an individual secures employment during this period, the allowance will be discontinued.
By implementing these guarantees, the Karnataka government aims to fulfill its commitments and provide support to various segments of society. These initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Karnataka and contribute to the overall welfare of the state.