2 days ago
Karnataka Plans Gruha Lakshmi Beneficiary Re-Verification to Prevent Misuse
Karnataka gives eligible women Rs 2,000 each month through the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
The government wants to check whether everyone receiving the money still qualifies.
Officials will visit homes and use an application, face checks and fingerprints or other biometric checks.
They will also look for people who pay GST, file income-tax returns or have died.
The review is expected to take one month.
About Rs 20 crore has been set aside for it.
The government says this can prevent public money from being misused.
Some beneficiaries may have to spend a day completing the process and could lose daily wages.
Karnataka plans to re-verify about 1.23 crore Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries to remove ineligible recipients.
The Women and Child Welfare Department will coordinate the one-month district- and taluk-level exercise.
Officials may use home visits, a dedicated application, face authentication and biometric verification.
The review will examine GST payers, income-tax filers and beneficiaries who may have died.
The exercise has an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore and could reduce assistance misuse, but may burden daily-wage beneficiaries.
- Who
- The Karnataka government, led in this exercise by the Women and Child Welfare Department, will re-verify Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries; H.M. Revanna is expected to discuss the issue with D.K. Shivakumar.
- What
- A re-verification exercise will check eligibility and remove ineligible, deceased or otherwise disqualified beneficiaries from the scheme.
- Where
- Verification will take place across Karnataka at district and taluk levels, including beneficiaries' residences.
- When
- The exercise is expected to begin nearly three years after the scheme's August 2023 launch and is to be completed within one month.
- Why
- The government says it wants to improve transparency, prevent misuse and ensure assistance reaches genuine eligible women.
Government Rationale
Beneficiary Concerns
Preventing misuse
Government Rationale
The government says re-verification will identify ineligible, deceased or otherwise disqualified recipients and reduce leakage of public funds.
Beneficiary Concerns
Beneficiaries may face additional paperwork and scrutiny even though they currently receive assistance under the scheme.
Cost of participation
Government Rationale
Officials plan a comprehensive process using district and taluk staff, local Guarantee Committees and digital verification tools.
Beneficiary Concerns
People required to complete the process may spend an entire day doing so, potentially losing about Rs 500 to Rs 700 in daily wages.
Key facts
- Scheme
- Gruha Lakshmi
- Monthly assistance
- Rs 2,000 for eligible women identified as heads of households
- Registered beneficiaries
- Around 1.23 crore across Karnataka
- Verification budget
- Around Rs 20 crore
- Verification period
- One month
- Annual scheme budget
- Roughly Rs 32,000 crore
- Reported spending since launch
- More than Rs 74,000 crore to Rs 76,500 crore
- Planned methods
- Home visits, a dedicated application, face authentication and biometric verification
Sources
Related news
Karnataka to Re-Verify Gruha Lakshmi Beneficiaries Biometrically
Karnataka Extends Gruha Jyothi Survey Deadline to September 30
Gruha Lakshmi probe: Payments made to 7,085 dead persons
SDPI slams Karnataka guarantee schemes over documentation, income limits
BJP's Ashoka Demands White Paper on Karnataka Guarantee Schemes
Shivakumar Seeks NITI Aayog Funds, Backs Second Bengaluru Plan
Shivakumar Says Sita’s Sacrifice Inspires Women Entrepreneurs and Leadership
Karnataka to Launch Praja Seva Campaign in Kudligi September 5
Shivakumar Calls BJP Padayatra Cover-Up for Internal Crisis
Congress MLA Threatens Resignation Over Jagalur Drought Recognition
