Archive · 6 Aug 2026
SDPI slams Karnataka guarantee schemes over documentation, income limits
A group called the SDPI is unhappy with the Karnataka government.
The government has special programs meant to help poor people, old people, and widows.
The SDPI says too many papers are needed to get help.
They say poor people are being left out of these programs.
They want the government to remove a rule that limits help to families earning only Rs 32,000 a year.
They say this amount is too low for today's living costs.
They also say women do not always get their monthly money on time.
And they say buses for free travel for women are too crowded.
The SDPI wants the government to make these programs simple, fair, and easy to use.
SDPI Karnataka President Abdul Majeed alleged that excessive documentation and unrealistic income criteria make the state's guarantee schemes inaccessible to the poor, elderly, widows and disabled.
The party demanded abolition of the Rs 32,000 annual family income ceiling for social security pensions, calling it 'unscientific, inhuman and irrational.'
Majeed criticised the Gruha Jyothi re-registration push as harassment and alleged a hidden intention to reduce the number of beneficiaries.
He said Gruha Lakshmi funds arrive as bulk arrears instead of regular monthly payments and that Shakti scheme buses are overcrowded because the fleet was not increased.
SDPI cited Kerala's Rs 1 lakh and Telangana's Rs 2-3 lakh pension income limits as fairer standards than Karnataka's Rs 32,000 ceiling.
- Who
- The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), led by Karnataka unit President Abdul Majeed.
- What
- Accused the Karnataka government's guarantee schemes and social security pensions of excluding vulnerable people through excessive documentation, unscientific income criteria and administrative failures.
- When
- On Wednesday, at a press conference in Bengaluru.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- Because the party says welfare benefits are not reaching senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities and the poor as intended.
Critics (SDPI)
Karnataka government (Congress)
Pension income ceiling
Critics (SDPI)
The Rs 32,000 annual family income limit is 'unscientific, inhuman and irrational' and excludes thousands of eligible poor, elderly and disabled people; it should be abolished outright.
Karnataka government (Congress)
The government retains the Rs 32,000 limit for social security pensions while separately considering raising the BPL card income limit to Rs 3 lakh.
Re-registration and documentation
Critics (SDPI)
Demanding fresh applications and documents from already-eligible Gruha Jyothi beneficiaries is harassment and may be a hidden attempt to reduce beneficiary numbers.
Karnataka government (Congress)
The government has directed existing beneficiaries to submit fresh applications and documents as part of the Gruha Jyothi scheme's continued implementation.
Timely delivery of benefits
Critics (SDPI)
Gruha Lakshmi payments are released as bulk arrears instead of monthly, and the Shakti bus fleet has not grown with demand, forcing women into overcrowded buses that compromise safety.
Karnataka government (Congress)
The guarantee schemes initially generated hope among the public, and the government continues to publicise free bus travel for women and other benefits.
- Criticising party
- Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)
- Location
- Press conference in Bengaluru
- Social security pension income ceiling
- Rs 32,000 per year
- Kerala pension limit
- Rs 1 lakh per year
- Telangana pension limit
- Rs 2 lakh (rural), Rs 3 lakh (urban)
- BPL card limit under consideration
- Rs 3 lakh per year
- Schemes criticised
- Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti