In the run-up to the 2023 Assembly polls, Congress’ Karnataka unit had announced the five guarantee schemes.
Published Aug 10, 2024 | 9:46 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2024 | 4:05 PM
Representation Image. (Supplied)
A year after the launch of the five guarantee schemes, the Siddaramaiah-led-Congress government’s survey received positive feedback from the beneficiaries, with people appealing to the Karnataka government to provide grocery items under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) E-administration is said to have carried out the survey across the state for about a fortnight from 1 March to 15 March this year.
Over 86.30 lakh families have participated in this two-week-long survey on the five guarantees. The government has carried out the survey to create awareness about the guarantees and benefits and get the beneficiaries’ feedback about these schemes.
Over one crore beneficiaries are availing benefits of Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi and Anna Bhagya Scheme. Over 98 percent of the women and 73 percent of unemployed youth in Karnataka are availing the benefits of Shakti and Yuva Nidhi schemes, respectively.
In the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka assembly polls, Congress’ Karnataka unit had announced five guarantee schemes. Within eight months of coming to power, the Siddaramaiah government launched all the schemes that the Congress had promised.
It is important to note that the state government is spending over ₹56,000 crore annually to implement all five guarantee schemes.
The state government carried out the survey on their flagship five guarantee schemes for 15 days in March 2024, with the aid of Anganwadi and Asha workers across the state.
According to the DPAR: “A total of 80.30 lakh families and 5.01 crore people participated in the survey. The survey was conducted in all the 31 districts including Bengaluru City. A total of 72,435 Anganwadi workers, 42,417 Asha workers, 2,233 BBMP surveyors, 581 urban and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department’s (RDPR) surveyors services were utilised to carry out an survey. The survey was conducted between 1 March to 15 March, 2024.”
On anonymity, an official from the Department of Women and Child Welfare (DWCW) told South First: “The main intention of the survey is to create awareness about the schemes and its benefits, collect feedback from the beneficiaries and ascertain how these schemes are helpful for them. As per the directions of the state government, Anganwadi, and Asha workers, Urban and RDPR department surveyors and others were used to conduct a survey. It was a door-to-door survey conducted for two weeks and compelled to discontinue as the Election Commission of India announced the parliamentary elections, when election model code of conduct came into force.”
The official added, “The state government itself had sent a certain set of questions to be asked for the beneficiaries. As it was a door-to-door survey, we have covered maximum beneficiaries of all the five guarantee schemes. We received overwhelming response from the beneficiaries. Women are happy about Shakti scheme and most of them are utilising it. On the other hand, some people have urged the government to provide grocery items along with the rice.”
The official said that they have not used the service of private personnel/firms in conducting the survey.
The recent survey on various government guarantee schemes has revealed overwhelmingly positive outcomes, with beneficiaries expressing significant improvements in their lives. The survey, which included Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti Yojana, Anna Bhagya, and Yuva Nidhi, showed high levels of satisfaction and utilization among recipients.
Gurha Jyothi Scheme
In the Gruha Jyothi Scheme, an impressive 98 percent of survey beneficiaries reported that the free electricity provided has improved their lives. Many credited the scheme for enabling them to study more, with 29 percent citing increased study time as a benefit.
Additionally, 33 percent of respondents appreciated the financial savings resulting from the free electricity. A total of 1.5 crore people has registered for the free electricity scheme.
Among them, 67.84 lakh people were part of this survey. Bengaluru City has the highest beneficiaries, with 37.67 lakh people registering for the scheme. This scheme was launched on 5 August, 2023.
Gruha Lakshmi Yojana
The Gruha Lakshmi Yojana also demonstrated significant impact, with 43 percent of beneficiaries using the provided funds to purchase essential items like fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, 13 percent utilised the funds for their children’s education, while 15 percent allocated the funds towards medical expenses and 23 percent towards general household expenses.
A total of 1.22 crore people have registered for the monthly financial assistance scheme. Among them 77.21 lakh beneficiaries were part of the survey. This scheme costs ₹28,000 crore annually to the state exchequer. Belagavi district has the highest number of beneficiaries, with 11.11 lakh women registering for the scheme. This scheme was launched on 30 August, 2023.
Belagavi’s Sangeeta Shankar Huli, who is a weaver by profession, told South First: “I am getting ₹2,000 under Gruha Lakshmi scheme every month. It is supportive for women as they can utilise this money for their personal expenses as well.”
“Though the government is providing financial assistance every month,the prices of vegetables, cooking oil and gas, grocery and essential items have all gone up. This financial assistance is reducing financial burden to a certain extent on our family,” opined Sangeeta.
Shakti Scheme
The survey on Shakti Yojana revealed that an overwhelming 98 percentage of respondents are actively using the free travel benefit, with 94 percent finding the process of obtaining a free ride to be easy.
The free bus travel for women in the state-run transport corporations’ was launched on 11 June, 2023. A total of 264.90 crore free rides have been availed by women in Karnataka since the launch of the scheme to till 8 August, 2024.
Anna Bhagya Scheme
When it comes to the Anna Bhagya survey, a notable 90 percent of respondents suggested that the government consider providing additional food items like pulses and oil, alongside the already provided rice. A total of 1.15 crore people having Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya cards have registered for the scheme. Of the total beneficiaries 84.52 lakh people were part of this survey.
It is also important to note that the state government is paying ₹170 for 5kg of rice instead of providing rice at the PDS to the beneficiary. The state government could not accumulate the required quantity of rice from its various sources including Food Corporation of India (FCI).
With no option left, the state government is continuing with monetary assistance instead of rice to its beneficiaries for the second consecutive year.
Mandya’s Jayalakshmi told the South First: “I work as a daily wage labourer in a jaggery production unit in Mandya. My family is availing benefits of all the schemes except Yuva Nidhi and Gruha Jyothi. The government is providing only 3 to 5 kgs of rice. They had promised to give 10 kgs of rice. We are getting money every month under the Anna Bhagya scheme. It would be helpful, if the government also resumes providing pulses, cooking oil and other grocery items.”
“I am not availing the Gruha Jyothi scheme as my family is residing in the rented house. My mother is receiving Rs 2,000 every month under Gruha Lakshmi yojana. This is helping in a greater way in purchasing daily essential items,” adds Jayalakshmi.
Yuva Nidhi Scheme
Lastly, the Yuva Nidhi scheme survey showed that 73 percent of young recipients feel that the financial assistance from the government has reduced the pressure on them, enabling greater financial stability. The monthly financial assistance scheme for unemployed diploma and graduates was launched on 12 January, 2024. Apart from providing financial aid, the state government is also providing skill development training to its beneficiaries, with an aim to help them to secure a job.
(Edited by Neena)
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