Bengaluru, Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday said the guarantee schemes need to be reviewed so that only the economically weaker sections, and not the rich, benefit from them, sparking a debate on the ambitious programmes launched by the Congress government. Jarkiholi said the state exchequer will be able to save at least ₹ 10,000 crore annually by excluding the rich from the schemes, which were pre-poll promises of the party. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had, while presenting the state budget earlier this year, announced that Rs.
52,000 crore has been set aside for the five guarantee schemes during 2024-25. “Through the five guarantee schemes, we are putting ₹ 52,000 crore in the hands of crores of people..
. an average of ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 55,000 is transferred to each family every year through these guarantee schemes,” Siddaramaiah had said. Speaking to reporters here, Jarkiholi said: “I am not saying that they should be stopped.
People are saying that these guarantees should be given to the poor and not the rich people. This is being discussed in hotels, among workers and everywhere." "Even the opposition is asking, 'Why are you giving to the rich?' Give it to the poor,” the Public Works Minister said.
The government has implemented five guarantees – free ride for Karnataka women in non-luxury government buses under ‘Shakti’ scheme, free electricity up to 200 units for domestic consumers under 'Gruha Jyoti', 'Yuva Nidhi' for unemployed gradu.