Gruha Lakshmi scheme on hold for now, says Deputy CM Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday threw up a surprise when he said that he had put the Gruha Lakshmi scheme on hold for now after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This has been done so that the rush eases, he justified.

Speaking about the delay in the rollout of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Shivakumar the Women and Child Development minister was not available and the scheme will be implemented smoothly after holding a meeting with the minister. He also said corruption will not be tolerated in implementation of the scheme.

The Deputy CM said action will be taken against any organisation taking money from people to file the applications for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. A helpline will also be launched where people can complain if there is any demand for bribes, he said.

On the Anna Bhagya scheme, Shivakumar said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and the latter has promised to look into providing additional rice. “It is not the farmers or the poor who are protesting, but those whose stomachs are full. The government will come to the aid of those in need”, he said, while taunting senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa who had warned of protest if the government fails to provide 10 kg of rice, as promised.

“The people of the state are speaking in favour of our government. Our sisters are travelling free by buses and visiting temples. The number of women visiting temples has increased and they are even breaking the doors of buses to go to Dharmastala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Chamundi Hills”, he remarked, highlighting the success of the Shakti scheme.

Reacting to JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s criticism of the Gruha Jyothi scheme, Shivakumar said the KERC had increased power tariff even before the Assembly election result was announced. “He may not know, but even during his tenure as CM, the power tariff was hiked. I too was power minister and I know everything”, he said.