Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries in Karnataka used funds to increase income

State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority Vice-Chairperson R. Mehroz Khan interacted with beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme in Karnataka during a visit to Shivamogga on October 27. The women said the money they received under the scheme had helped them start or expand small businesses and increase their family income.

Kalavathi of Ripponpet in Hosanagara taluk said she used to earn a living by ironing clothes. She utilised the Gruha Lakshmi money to buy clothes and saris, and start a business selling them, which has raised her family’s income.

Savitha of Umblebailu in Shivamogga taluk said she used to work as a daily-wage labourer. With the money she received under the scheme, she opened a chicken stall in the village, which has benefited her family.

Neelamma of Bhadrapura in Bhadravati taluk said she bought a cow with the money, grows fodder, and sells milk, which has added to her income. Savitha of Anandapura in Sagar taluk said she earlier worked in a quarry, where the work was uncertain. She saved the Gruha Lakshmi money and opened a provisions store in the village.

Review meeting

Chairing a review meeting of the guarantee schemes at the zilla panchayat auditorium, Mr. Khan said the schemes were being implemented successfully in the district, and lakhs of people were benefiting. He praised the role of officials of various departments in implementing them.

Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, the year-wise disbursal was ₹584.23 crore in 2023-24, ₹768.31 crore in 2024-25, and ₹841.14 crore in 2025-26.

Officials reported that ₹73.76 lakh was due to the government of Karnataka from deceased beneficiaries. Mr. Khan directed that a meeting be held with banks, and the amount be recovered from accounts that still hold funds.

He said that beneficiaries had already been told to have their own SIM cards, and made it clear that the scheme would not be stopped for any eligible beneficiary.

Mr. Khan said the free bus travel scheme — Shakti — for women had proved a boon, and was being widely used for pilgrimages, employment, and education. In the district, 8.69 crore trips have been made by women so far. Between June 2023 and September 2026, the government of Karnataka paid ₹336.19 crore to the KSRTC under the scheme.

Reviewing the Anna Bhagya scheme, Mr. Khan instructed officials to ensure fair price shops were opened at 7 a.m. for the convenience of people, and to put up boards showing the availability of ration. 

The Gruha Jyothi scheme has reached 4,73,682 families in the district that use less than 200 units of electricity. The government of Karnataka has spent a total of ₹823.69 crore on the scheme. A house-to-house verification is underway, with 15,262 houses remaining, and will be completed by the end of October. Officials said steps were being taken to address smart meter and technical problems.

Mr. Khan asked officials to collect details of degree and diploma colleges, and give more attention to training courses for students under the scheme, and to implement ‘Yuva Nidhi Plus’ effectively. Officials said the district has 1,31,395 DBT accounts, and ₹39.09 crore has been spent so far on the allowance.

Authority district president C.S. Chandrabhupal, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rishi Anand, office-bearers, and members of the district and taluk guarantee authorities, and district-level officials were present.