Guarantee schemes improve family relationships of 89% beneficiaries, states version of Guv’s speech
Bengaluru: The state government has said in the version of the Governor’s address prepared by it that 89 per cent of beneficiaries have seen an improvement in their family relationships due to the state government’s ambitious five guarantee schemes.
So far, Rs 1,16,706 crore has been allocated for the five guarantee schemes, Gruha Jyoti, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Shakti and Yuvanidhi.
It has been also informed in the speech that the FPI has entered into agreements with academic and research institutions such as King’s College London, Just Jobs Network, XKDR Forum, Azim Premji University, Indus Action and Lokneeti/CSDS to scientifically evaluate the social and economic impacts of these schemes.
Extensive studies conducted by these organisations have confirmed revolutionary changes in food security, poverty eradication and women empowerment in the state.
It is stated that people are spending the money received through the guarantee schemes on nutritious food, medicines and children’s education.
The proportion of households receiving cash transfers from the government into bank accounts has increased from 9.3 per cent in 2022 to 72.7 per cent by 2024.
According to a study by Azim Premji University, the number of women travelling under the Shakti scheme on many routes, including major commercial areas of Bengaluru, is higher than that of men, marking a significant change in the city’s mobility.
The scheme saves an average of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per month per woman. It has helped 19 per cent of women across the state and 34 per cent in Bengaluru secure well-paid jobs. It is also stated that 83 per cent of people have been able to access good health services.
It is stated that due to the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme, which is making the dream of a ‘hunger-free Karnataka’ a reality, 83 per cent of women are improving their family’s nutrition by purchasing quality food items such as pulses, vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat with the money saved through the guarantee schemes.
About 80 per cent of women feel that they are more financially independent and play a leading role in family decision-making due to the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme.
Further, 37 per cent of beneficiaries have said that they are becoming debt-free by using the money from the guarantee schemes to repay old family loans.
Karnataka has initiated a new paradigm through the women empowerment schemes implemented by the government. It is believed that these schemes have not only provided financial assistance but have also enabled social transformation.
As a result of the ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme, which supports the youth, 28 per cent of young people are engaged in skill learning, while 20 per cent are becoming financially independent.
The ‘Gruha Lakshmi Credit Cooperative Society’ has been established to support the financial independence of women. It was proposed in the speech that the ‘Akka Pade’ (which means elder sister force) scheme will be implemented in the year 2025–26 with the aim of providing immediate protection to women and children in danger and distress.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Governor's move an insult to assembly, will protest his unconstitutional action: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has criticised Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot for not skipping the Cabinet-approved address and reading his version of the address at the first joint session of the year, alleging that the move violated constitutional provisions and amounted to an insult to the elected legislature.
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot addressed the joint session of the state legislature on Thursday, but read only three lines of the government’s prepared speech before leaving the House. A day earlier, he had refused to address the session.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday on the Governor’s shortened address to both Houses of the legislature, he said, “As per the Constitution, it is the Governor’s duty to address the joint session held at the beginning of every year and when a new government is formed.”
He said that under Articles 176 and 163 of the Constitution, the Governor is required to read the address prepared by the Cabinet, a practice that has been followed since the Constitution came into force.
“By delivering a speech drafted by himself, the Governor had violated constitutional provisions and insulted the Assembly of elected representatives,” the Chief Minister alleged.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Congress party and the state government would protest what he termed an unconstitutional act and that agitations had been planned across the state.
He alleged that the Governor had acted as the “puppet” of the Centre, accusing the Central government of using the Governor to deliver a different address to cover up its own failures, and said the Governor had not fulfilled his constitutional duty.
He further alleged that the Centre had repealed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and introduced a new scheme called ‘VB-G RAM G’, a move strongly opposed by the state government. He said the first step taken by the Centre was to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the Act.
Recalling the Congress-led UPA government’s initiatives, Siddaramaiah said that during Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister in 2005, landmark legislations such as the Right to Food, Right to Information, Right to Education and Right to Employment were implemented in line with constitutional principles.
He added that the employment guarantee programme, aimed at providing at least 100 days of work to the rural poor, continues to benefit Dalits, labourers, women and small farmers.
He claimed that under the Centre’s new Act, job security for beneficiaries had been weakened, particularly affecting women and Dalits, who together formed a large share of those employed under the earlier scheme. He said the previous law allowed small farmers to take up work on their own land and ensured employment throughout the year, which was the government’s responsibility.
Siddaramaiah alleged that under the new arrangement, poor workers would be required to work at locations decided by the Central government. He also pointed out that earlier, Gram Sabha’s and Panchayats had the authority to prepare employment action plans, but this decentralised decision-making process had been removed under the new Act.
