K'taka govt's 2 more guarantees come into force

Two more "guarantee" schemes of the Congress government in Karnataka -- cash for beneficiaries in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice under 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, and 200 units of free electricity to households under 'Gruha Jyothi' scheme, has come into force effective from Saturday.

The government has already implemented one of its five poll guarantees, "Shakti", by providing free services for women in public transport buses.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said payment of money to beneficiaries under Anna Bhagya scheme for this month is likely to begin after July 10; while the Gruha Jyothi scheme has come into effect from today and the electricity bill for the same for this month will come in beginning of August, as per the billing cycle.

"We have said July month's amount (under Anna Bhagya scheme) will be paid to beneficiaries in July itself, instead of rice. We had not said, we will pay it on July 1st itself...most likely we will start making the payments after July 10. This month's amount will be deposited into bank account of the beneficiaries within this month," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "The Gruha Jyothi scheme will begin from today, so from this month it will be free (upto 200 units), but the bill will come in August."

Facing difficulty in procuring large quantities of rice required to fulfil its poll guarantee, the state government decided to pay cash to beneficiaries at the rate of Rs 34 per kilo, for the additional 5kg of rice under the free rice scheme, which is applicable to every member of a BPL household.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa said, amount will be transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries in a week or 10 days.

"90 percent of beneficiaries have a bank account....5kgs per person means, the benificary will get Rs 170," he told reporters in Devanahalli.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Chikkamagaluru regarding 'Gruha Jyothi' , Energy Minister K J George said, registration for the scheme is going on, and about 86.5 lakh consumers have registered.

"Free current (up to 200 units) is applicable from today itself and the bill to this effect will come in the beginning of August," he said.

The Minister said consumers who want to avail the benefit of Gruha Bhagya scheme will have to register online. To avail the benefit this month, one can apply till July 24 or 25, as bill for same will be generated in August.

One has to apply for the Gruha Jyothi Scheme on 'Seva Sindu' website or can apply through assisted mode also made available at Grama One, Karnataka One, Bangalore One centers.

The benefit is calculated based on average consumption for Financial Year 2022-23, plus 10 percent increase, but total amounting to less than 200 units.

The remaining two guarantees which the government is taking steps to implement soon are -- Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi); and Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (Yuva Nidhi).