Guarantee schemes will continue but benefits only for eligible, says Revanna

Karnataka State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority Chairman H.M. Revanna recently addressed a review meeting concerning the implementation of the state's five guarantee schemes, held at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Kalaburagi. During this meeting, Revanna emphasized that while the guarantee schemes will continue, there will be stricter measures to ensure that only eligible individuals benefit from these programs. The focus of his remarks was on curbing misuse and irregularities that have been identified during the implementation process.

Revanna highlighted that approximately ₹14 crore to ₹15 crore had already been recovered from ineligible beneficiaries, with efforts ongoing to recover an additional ₹100 crore in collaboration with banks. He pointed out several issues, including the transfer of benefits to deceased individuals, multiple beneficiaries linked to a single bank account, and transfers made despite the lack of valid bank accounts. In Kalaburagi district alone, 9,156 deceased beneficiaries were identified under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, with ₹4.27 crore credited to their accounts. Although 5,336 accounts had been blocked, only ₹25.84 lakh had been recovered thus far.

To address these concerns, Revanna ordered a door-to-door survey using ASHAs and anganwadi workers, requiring a comprehensive report within eight to ten days. He also warned banks against using guarantee scheme funds to repay existing loans of beneficiaries, noting complaints that some institutions were misappropriating funds for this purpose. Banks were instructed to cease such practices immediately.

In reviewing the Anna Bhagya scheme, Revanna noted that the Food and Civil Supplies Department had revoked licenses from 14 fair-price shops due to violations. Additionally, 6,874 fake ration cards had been canceled, and 9,631 quintals of illegally diverted foodgrains had been seized. Between July 2023 and December 2024, ₹508.72 crore had been directly transferred to beneficiaries' accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Regarding the Shakti scheme, Revanna mentioned that the government had released 80% of pending dues to transport corporations totaling ₹608 crore. To accommodate rising passenger demand, 124 extra bus schedules had been introduced. Furthermore, the state government was contemplating the setup of police outposts and Namma Clinics at bus stations to enhance women's safety and improve public facilities.

When asked about the future of the guarantee schemes, Revanna assured that they would not be discontinued. He stated that eligible beneficiaries would continue receiving benefits without disruption, while those who had obtained benefits through false information would be identified to promote transparency. He reassured the public that there was no cause for concern.

The meeting was attended by several officials, including District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority Chairperson Chandrika Parameshwar, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Sankanur, Chief Planning Officer Sharannayya S. Mathapati, Vice-Chairpersons Vijaykumar Kattimani, Somashekhar Hiremath, and Suresh Tippashetti, along with representatives from various departments.

In addition to these developments, NDTV reported that Karnataka plans to implement tighter checks on UPI-linked and payment bank accounts, citing concerns over misuse through certain digital banking platforms. This indicates a broader effort to enhance oversight and prevent fraudulent activities related to financial transactions under the guarantee schemes.