Bengaluru, Sep 24 (IANS) A demand by Congress MLC Thippanna Kamakanoor in the Legislative Council to suspend the Gruha Lakshmi guarantee scheme for a year and prioritise irrigation projects has triggered a political controversy in Karnataka, bringing differences of opinion within the government over the continuation of the state’s guarantee schemes to the forefront.
Kamakanoor’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, with Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Thursday accusing the government of financial mismanagement over its guarantee schemes.
Ashoka alleged that the remarks by a ruling party MLC exposed shortcomings in the implementation of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme and alleged that funds were being disbursed to beneficiaries who were no longer alive.
“Congress exposes its own guarantee fraud. Money is going to dead people while development stands dead,” Ashoka alleged in a statement.
The BJP leader claimed that Kamakanoor’s demand to suspend the scheme for a year reflected concerns within the ruling party itself over the government’s financial position.
Ashoka also alleged that several major irrigation projects had stalled due to a shortage of funds and linked this to the expenditure on the government’s guarantee schemes.
He cited Mekedatu, Upper Krishna Project Phase-3, Kalasa Banduri, Upper Bhadra, Navali Balancing Reservoir and Yettinahole among the projects that, according to him, required greater priority.
Ashoka further alleged that the state government’s spending on guarantee schemes had affected funding for development and irrigation projects and questioned the government over the implementation of Gruha Lakshmi.
The BJP leader also linked the latest development to recent criticism from within the ruling party over drought management and governance, referring to the resignation of Indi MLA Yashwantharayagowda Patil over the exclusion of his taluks from the drought-hit list.
Ashoka alleged that the developments showed growing dissatisfaction within the party over the government’s handling of financial and development issues.
It can be noted that the Gruha Lakshmi scheme is one of the Congress government’s five guarantee programmes and provides Rs 2,000 per month to eligible women heads of households.
It can be recalled that Kamakanoor, while participating in a discussion in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, called for irrigation works to be given top priority for a year, arguing that several key projects need to be completed to help the state deal with drought.
He specifically referred to the Mekedatu balancing reservoir, Upper Krishna Project Phase-3, Kalasa Banduri, Upper Bhadra Project, Navali Balancing Reservoir Project and Yettinahole Project.
“Irrigation works should get top priority for a year. For a year all development works should be stopped, different things, the Rs 2,000 being given must be stopped,” Kamakanoor said, referring to the monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 provided under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to women heads of households.
He argued that completing major irrigation projects was essential for the state to tackle recurring drought conditions and ensure water availability.
The remarks have once again brought the financial implications and continuation of the guarantee schemes into political focus, with the Opposition questioning the government’s spending priorities and a ruling party legislator calling for greater allocation towards irrigation and drought mitigation projects.
–IANS
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