Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Karnataka CM directs banks to protect Gruhalakshmi welfare payments
Karnataka gives eligible women ₹2,000 every month through the Gruhalakshmi scheme.
The money is meant to help with household costs, children’s education and financial independence.
Some women reportedly said lenders took the money to recover loan payments or interest.
Dinesh Gooligowda raised these complaints with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The Chief Minister told officials to instruct banks not to divert the assistance.
The instruction applies to payments intended for women beneficiaries.
Gooligowda also requested repayment when money was taken without written consent.
He called for closer monitoring and action against coercive recovery agents.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar directed banks not to use Gruhalakshmi payments for loan instalments or interest dues.
The ₹2,000 monthly benefit reaches about 1.24 crore women heads of households in Karnataka.
The direction followed complaints submitted by Legislative Council member Dinesh Gooligowda on behalf of beneficiaries.
Gooligowda alleged that banks, finance companies and microfinance institutions deducted payments after crediting them.
The representation sought repayment of unauthorized deductions, stronger monitoring and action against coercive recovery practices.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Legislative Council member Dinesh Gooligowda, banks and women beneficiaries.
- What
- The Chief Minister directed officials to prevent banks and financial institutions from diverting Gruhalakshmi payments toward loan instalments or interest dues.
- When
- The direction followed a representation submitted by Dinesh Gooligowda; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Karnataka, including beneficiaries’ bank accounts and state and district banking institutions.
- Why
- The action followed complaints that lenders were deducting the ₹2,000 assistance, potentially undermining its intended welfare purpose.
- Monthly assistance
- ₹2,000 per beneficiary
- Beneficiaries
- Around 1.24 crore women heads of households
- Scheme
- Gruhalakshmi
- State
- Karnataka
- Proposed protection
- No adjustment against loan instalments, agricultural or non-agricultural borrowings, or interest dues
- Requested remedy
- Repayment of amounts deducted without the beneficiary’s written consent
- Oversight requested
- Monitoring by district administrations, police and local authorities