Karnataka Home minister G Parameshwara.
Credit: DH File Photo
Tumakuru: Home Minister G Parameshwara has said that the benefit of guarantee schemes, launched by the state government, must be made available only for the poor and a decision will be taken in this regard.
Speaking at the Karnataka Development Programme review meeting here on Monday, Parameshwara said that below the poverty line should be the yardstick for availing of the benefits of the guarantee scheme. He suggested the meeting to adopt a resolution in this regard and submit the same to the government.
Earlier JD(S) MLA M T Krishnappa, who raised the issue, said that women drawing a salary of Rs 2 lakh per month were travelling free in government buses. “Is our’s such a rich state?” he said.
Parameshwara joined the issue saying that it’s a serious issue. “Affluent people are enjoying the benefits of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme and this should be avoided. We will decide on revising the scheme,” he said. However, Congress MLA T Shadakshari said that the party has promised five guarantees for five years and they should not be stopped for any reason.
JD(S) legislature party leader C B Suresh Babu said that the government had no money to fund guarantees, and therefore it was planning to curtail the benefits.
Chairperson of the committee on guarantee implementation H M Revanna said 2,800 women in Uttara Kannada district had given in writing to relinquish the benefits of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme as they were well-to-do. He suggested affluent women from across the state should come forward similarly.