Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced the roll-out of five guarantees promised by the Congress party before the assembly elections. The chief minister said the cabinet discussed all guarantees thoroughly and decided to implement them in the present financial year “without any discrimination of caste or religion.”
The five guarantees promised are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), ₹2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), ₹3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and ₹1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

For the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, the beneficiaries will have to submit their Aadhaar details and bank account numbers online. The applications for the scheme should be submitted from June 15 to July 15. The amount will be deposited in the account of the woman on August 15.
All BPL and Antyodaya cardholders will receive 10 kg of food grains from July 1 under the Anna Bhagya scheme.

The Gruha Shakti scheme will be launched on June 11 under which all women can avail free travel in all government-run buses in the state, except AC buses and non-AC sleeper buses.

Under the Yuva Nidhi scheme, ₹3,000 will be disbursed every month for two years to those who completed graduation in 2022-23 and ₹1,500 per month to unemployed diploma holders.
The state cabinet has decided to launch all 5 guarantee schemes during the present financial year itself, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced here today.

Addressing a jam-packed press conference, after holding a special cabinet meeting regarding implementing 5 guarantee schemes announced by Congress party before elections, he said that he and the party president had signed the guarantee cards and distributed them to each household.

Accordingly when his Government came into power, in principle approval was given to implement these schemes on the very first cabinet meeting itself. In today;s meeting details of each scheme were discussed and decisions were taken, he explained.
Following decisions were taken regarding Griha Jyothi, Griha Lakshmi, Annabhagya, Shakti and Yuvanidhi schemes in today’s cabinet meeting:

Griha Jyoti

As announced in the election manifesto, the cabinet today decided to provide free electricity upto 200 units. Under this scheme, Government will take into account the one year average power consumption and will give free electricity upto 10 per cent more than the average usage. This scheme will be applicable for the power usage from July 1, 2023. Consumers have to pay the arrears till that day.

Griha Lakshmi:
Rs. 2000/- per month will be given to head woman of both BPL and APL families. Women have to apply online for this scheme and provide Bank account, aadhar number and have to declare who is the woman head of the family. Beneficiaries have to apply between, June 15 to July 15, 2023. Software will be developed and Applications will be processed from July 15 and the scheme will be launched on August 15,2023.

Anna Bhagya:
BJP Government had reduced the quantity of food grains from 7 Kg to 5 kg. Now the quantity of foodgrain will be increased to 10 Kg. This scheme will be launched from July 1 as the foodgrains for the month of June has already been despatched and additional food grains have to be procured. Antyodaya card holders and BPL card holders will be benefitted.

Shakti:
All women from all classes including students, can travel free of cost within the State, in all buses except AC and luxury buses. This scheme will be launched from June 11. This will allow women travel in 94% of the buses. 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for men in all buses.

Box
Check on misuse of scheme and funds

Government has taken utmost care to avoid misuse of the facilities being extended and the misuse of funds while implementing these 5 guarantee schemes for the benefit of the poor and the middle class.

Box 2
“Free for my wife too”
“Bus travel is free for my wife too”- was the witty reply Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave to reporter’s question about free bus travel for women.

Reporters bombarded with questions in the jam-packed press conference and the Chief Minister answered all the questions in a lively and humorous manner. He repeated his words so that the journalists could understand.

Box 3

“Make Rajahamsa Free”
While providing details about free bus travel for women, Chief Minister by slip of tongue said that Rajahamsa is also free. Transport Minister Ramalingareddy was quick enough to clarify that it is not free.

Box 4.
94 per cent buses are free
Under Shakti scheme women can avail services of 94 per cent of the buses, as they can travel in all buses except luxury and AC buses.

Box 5
Yuvanidhi for Gender minority
The yuva nidhi scheme, providing unemployment allowance, is applicable for Gender minority too.