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Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi to continue: DKS

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed that the flagship welfare programs Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi will continue without interruption.
  • He dismissed opposition speculation, stating that a fresh verification exercise is necessary to correct irregularities, including fraudulent claims using deceased beneficiaries' identities.
  • The verification aims to ensure benefits reach genuine recipients by confirming names, addresses, and bank details, and to prevent misuse for commercial purposes.

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has definitively stated that two of the state government's flagship welfare programs, Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi, will continue without interruption, dismissing speculation fueled by opposition parties. The announcement came after a recent verification exercise raised concerns among beneficiaries.

Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi are the pride of the Congress government. They will not be stopped under any circumstances. The public should not listen to the false news being spread by Opposition parties in this regard.

— D.K. ShivakumarAddressing speculation about the continuation of the welfare programs.

Shivakumar asserted that these schemes are the "pride of the Congress government" and will not be halted under any circumstances. He urged the public to disregard "false news" spread by the opposition. The chief minister explained that beneficiaries are being asked to resubmit applications solely to verify their names, addresses, and bank account details. This measure is necessary because irregularities have surfaced, including fraudulent claims totaling over ₹100 crore under Gruha Lakshmi, where benefits were claimed using the identities of deceased individuals.

Further irregularities under Gruha Jyothi were also highlighted. These include multiple electricity meters registered under a single person's name, uncertainty about whether beneficiaries still reside at their declared addresses, potential claims by individuals from outside Karnataka, and the use of the subsidy for commercial properties. Shivakumar emphasized the need to address these issues, noting the rising cost of electricity purchases by the state.

All guarantee schemes will continue one hundred percent and that no one need be anxious.

— D.K. ShivakumarReassuring beneficiaries about the future of the state's welfare initiatives.

As part of the verification process, beneficiaries will also be issued identity cards. Gruha Lakshmi provides ₹2,000 per month to women-headed households below the poverty line, benefiting 1.24 crore women. Gruha Jyothi offers free electricity for residential consumption up to a certain limit. The chief minister assured that all guarantee schemes would continue "one hundred percent" and that beneficiaries need not be anxious.

It has come to our notice that benefits of over ₹100 crore had been claimed by others under Gruha Lakshmi, in the names of those who had died.

— D.K. ShivakumarExplaining the necessity of the verification exercise due to fraudulent claims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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