Dharwad district has been declared the leading district in Karnataka for the successful implementation of the state government's flagship guarantee schemes. The announcement was made by HM Revanna, Chairman of the Karnataka State Authority for Implementation of Guarantee Schemes, during the district-level Guarantee Utsav held at Srujana Rangamandira in Dharwad on Monday.
Direct Benefits Reach the Masses
Revanna revealed that the district's success is marked by the direct transfer of benefits to approximately 98% of the targeted beneficiaries. He credited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for fulfilling 165 assurances made to the public within a short timeframe. The significant participation of women in the workshop, according to Revanna, is clear evidence that these welfare initiatives are penetrating every household.
Historical Context and Current Impact
While lauding the current administration, Revanna also recalled the pro-people contributions of former chief ministers. He noted that D Devaraj Urs introduced schemes for backward classes, Ramakrishna Hegde implemented public welfare programs, M Veerappa Moily started the CET exam, S Bangarappa launched the Ashraya housing scheme and provided free power up to 10 HP, and SM Krishna fostered the IT-BT boom in Bengaluru. Revanna asserted that CM Siddaramaiah, through the guarantee schemes, has built a strong foundation for the development of common citizens.
He provided staggering figures on the schemes' scale: nearly Rs 1 lakh crore is being directly transferred to people. The Shakti scheme alone has facilitated a record 638 crore free bus rides for women, earning recognition from international record-keeping bodies like the London Book of World Records. Other schemes like Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, and Yuva Nidhi are also being effectively rolled out.
Substantial Government Investment
Echoing the commitment, Labour Minister and District In-charge Minister Santosh Lad stated that the government is investing Rs 60,000 crore annually on the five key guarantee schemes. This translates to a massive Rs 3 lakh crore expenditure over five years. Lad emphasized that the Gruha Lakshmi assistance is specifically designed to acknowledge and respect the unpaid household work performed by women.
SR Patil, Vice-Chairman of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority, mentioned that this was the third such program in the Belagavi division. The event was attended by dignitaries including MLC FH Jakkappanavar, Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu, ZP CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, and SP Gunjan Arya.
