New Delhi (Agency): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated on Wednesday that the work completed by the Congress government in Karnataka will serve as a model for the whole of India. During a public function attended by tens of thousands of people, he emphasized that Congress has fulfilled key pre-election promises made to the citizens of Karnataka.
One such promise came to fruition on the same day: the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme. Launched by AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge, the program provides monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to around 1.1 crore women who are heads of their households. Rahul Gandhi, along with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, were present at the launch event.
“We have kept our word on promises,” Gandhi said. “The work we have done in Karnataka will be replicated across India.” The Congress leader also described the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme as “the world’s largest cash transfer scheme,” as the assistance will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of millions of female beneficiaries.
According to Gandhi, the Congress had committed to implement five key ‘guarantees’ during the polls, which are: ‘Shakti,’ ‘Gruha Jyothi,’ ‘Annabhagya,’ ‘Gruha Lakshmi,’ and ‘Yuva Nidhi.’ These are not just individual schemes but part of a larger governance model, Gandhi emphasized. For example, ‘Shakti’ provides free travel for women on government buses in Karnataka, while ‘Gruha Jyoti’ offers 200 units of free electricity every month.
The ‘Anna Bhagya’ program gives away 10 kg of rice, and ‘Yuva Nidhi’ aims to provide a monthly stipend to unemployed graduates and diploma holders who have not found a job within six months after completing their studies.
“There is a deep thinking behind these four guarantees meant for women,” Gandhi elaborated, comparing the women of Karnataka to the roots of a tree. If the roots are strong, he noted, the tree can withstand any storm.
During his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ a 600-km walk across Karnataka last year, Gandhi observed that women were particularly concerned about rising prices in the country. This observation led Congress to prioritize schemes benefiting women.
Gandhi also took a moment to criticize the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying, “Our thinking is that the government should work for the welfare of poor people,” in contrast to a government he accused of working only for billionaires.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that three out of the five ‘guarantees’ have already been implemented, with ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ being the fourth. The government has allocated Rs 17,500 crore for the program in the current financial year, he added.
The fifth guarantee, ‘Yuva Nidhi,’ will be rolled out in December or January, according to the Chief Minister.