Karnataka govt's guarantee schemes ease financial burden, empower women: Study
Bengaluru: A year-long independent study has found that the Karnataka government’s five guarantee schemes have significantly empowered women, particularly from low-income households, by easing financial stress and improving household well-being.
The survey, led by independent policy consultant Tara Krishnaswamy in collaboration with Lokniti-CSDS, Bangalore University, Tumkur University, and Indus Action, covered approximately 6,300 women across 15 districts in Karnataka. According to the study, as cited by The Hindu, 84% of respondents reported that the schemes reduced their families’ financial burden, while 89% felt that the guarantees contributed to their financial upliftment.
Improved nutrition, health, and independence
The study highlights how beneficiaries are utilising the monetary benefits and savings from the schemes. Around 91% of respondents said they used the funds to purchase food and dietary essentials such as grains, vegetables, fruits, pulses, eggs, and meat.
Nearly 95% of the women stated that their families ingested better nutrition and improved diets due to the benefits, while 90% reported increased access to healthcare.
Additionally, over 80% of women noted improvements in their personal health, nutrition, and financial security. More than 50% of respondents also indicated they had resumed or continued their education due to the support received.
Economic and social empowerment
According to the study, the direct benefit of Rs 2,000 per month through the Gruha Lakshmi scheme played a key role, while additional savings came from Gruha Jyoti, which helped over 90% of women save up to Rs 1,000 per month on electricity bills. The Shakti scheme enabled up to Rs 1,000 in weekly savings. Notably, 27% of respondents reported using savings from the five guarantees to repay loans.
The Shakti scheme also contributed to greater mobility and independence, with 67% of women travelling independently for work or leisure. About 19% were able to secure new or better-paying jobs due to free transportation.
Other guarantees also made an impact: Anna Bhagya improved household diets, Gruha Jyoti reduced electricity costs for 82% of families, and Yuva Nidhi supported skill development among unemployed youth, though the latter had a limited reach, benefiting just 7% of respondents.
“These schemes are a social safety net. The money is not sitting idle somewhere. Whether it is money received through Gruha Lakshmi or any savings that they have because of these schemes, it is all being spent mainly on food, nutrition and health,” The Hindu quoted Krishnaswamy as saying.
Challenges and recommendations
Despite the positive outcomes, the study also identified several challenges, including delays in benefit distribution, administrative hurdles, and technological barriers. It noted that many women beneficiaries have only basic education (up to the 10th standard or less) and often struggle with mobile apps, portals, ATMs, or even reading electricity bills.
The study recommends boosting financial and digital literacy through local panchayats to help bridge these gaps.
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'Contract killing' plot busted in Thane; victim's brother among four held
Thane (PTI): The Thane police have uncovered a "contract killing" plot and arrested four persons, including the victim's younger brother, who allegedly hired the assailants and lodged the complaint to mislead investigators and hide his role in the murder, officials said on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Paresh Tolaram Patil (40), was hacked to death on May 12 over a property dispute, and his brother allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to the contract killers, an official said.
The same day, Naresh Tolaram Patil (37), an auto-rickshaw driver residing in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra's Thane district, lodged a police complaint alleging that his elder brother Paresh had been murdered by unidentified persons.
According to Naresh, his brother was riding his motorcycle to work at Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district when the unidentified assailants intercepted him and assaulted him with sharp weapons, in-charge Superintendent of Police Anmol Mittal said.
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Following the complaint, the Ganeshpuri police registered a case of murder on May 13.
The investigation teams examined several CCTV recordings along the suspected escape routes and used advanced technical surveillance.
The police then traced the registration plate of a vehicle allegedly used by the assailants, leading to the arrest of three alleged contract killers -- Rakesh Bhagwan Patil (37), Premjit Madhukar Gharat (38), and Daksh Bhanukant Bhoir (24) -- from Palghar, the official said.
"During intense interrogation, the three persons confessed to their involvement in the killing. They revealed that the plot was masterminded by the victim's brother, Naresh Patil, who had lodged the initial police complaint to misguide the law enforcement agencies," he said.
According to the official, Naresh Patil confessed to hatching the conspiracy due to an ongoing property dispute with his elder brother and that he had offered Rs 10 lakh to the three accused to eliminate Paresh.
Naresh Patil has also been arrested, and a further probe is underway into the case, they added.
